Change screen resolution Windows XP, Vista, and Win 7

Change screen resolution

Changing resolution involves making the pixels closer together (higher res) or further apart (lower res).  Since you can’t physically make the screen larger (without replacing the whole screen), the trade of is that lower resolutions use more screen space, which displays less of the screen at a time (meaning you may need to scroll the screen over to see the other side).

Change screen resolution Windows XP: go to control panel / display and click settings.  Use the slider to the right to increase resolution, or to the left to decrease resolution.

Change screen resolution Windows Vista & Win 7: Click control panel / display and select adjust resolution.   Then you can slide the bar up or down to change resolution. 

You can also change the size of icons, etc. without changing screen resolution from the display panel.  I would suggest trying out the different magnification settings before changing screen resolution.   It can make things larger without affecting web pages, etc. as much.

Cleanliness is next to ....

I have worked on a few desktop system recently that had one major thing in common.

  They were filthy!
The above part is the base of a heatsink-fan combination, which helps to pull heat from a component (in this case the processor) and keep it from overheating.  (imagine a small fan mounted on top of this part to help move air).  All this dust is kind of like a layer of insulation, and keeps air (and heat) from moving freely.
Cases can also suffer from dust infiltration. A standard PC tower may have as many as 4-5 fans, but it may only have 1-2 intake and exhaust ports to move air through the tower. (Laptops are typically worse, they may only have one main air path, which is intended to cool the entire unit.  A block along this path will dramatically reduce any cooling effort, and temperatures will rise..

Falcon Northwest is well-known for making excellent computers, mostly in the high-end gaming niche, and they demand top quality designs for their PC's because they are frequently run at higher than stock speeds (over-clocked)
So, how do you keep it clean?

When is it time to upgrade?

This is a question I am often asked, and it is most often during the months preceding Christmas.  The answer is not as complex as you might think, and requires only a few questions to be answered.

1. How do you use your computer?
2. Are you online with it?
3. Is there important information on it?
4. Are you satisfied with its performance?
5. Are there things you would like to do (but can't?)

The first question is pretty self-explanatory, but what you use it for should be of worth to you (what value it provides to you as a consumer)
The second question is important simply because older Operating Systems (OS) like Windows 2000, Me, or even 98 are no longer secure online.  Note: Even if you are satisfied with your computer's performance, you should consider an upgrade if you are using anything older that Win XP.  This product is still supported by MicroSoft (MS), (meaning that security updates, etc. are still available), and so it's still safe to use.
The third question is important because the main storage of a computer, the hard drive, is a mechanical part.  It is subject to failure, and may or may not give warning signs (like a scratching or clicking sounds, repeated startup failures) before it goes out.  A catastrophic failure will make data recovery difficult (read: expensive) if not impossible.
The fourth is important because newer machines vs. ones with Vista and XP installed are more capable, have faster processors, more memory, as well as having a faster OS to run.
The last is a good question because many times people don't consider what they want to do when they buy a computer, and some of these are difficult to change once you take it home.
 
If it is time to upgrade, apply this last question to your new purchase as well.  Want to play WoW? (World of Warcraft)  Spend a few bucks more and get a gaming-level graphics card.  Are you interested in digital photography? Get a nice big hard drive (and an external one for backing up photos).  Do you want to make and distribute home movies and such?  Make sure you have plenty of RAM (memory), a DVD burner, and a program for recording home movies.

These are things to think about, but taking the time to access your needs will lead to a happier computing experience, and may prevent a purchase that you really don't need.
Happy Holidays!

How well does MagicJack actually work?

I am in the process of helping a friend/customer of mine with his new MagicJack (MJ).  He decided to take the leap and jettison his phone company in favor of MagicJack.  Just how well does it work?  We shall see.

I should mention that MJ is an over-the internet phone service which allows callers to make local & long distance calls (international plans are available for extra per-minute charges) without needing a phone connection.  Note that it connects to USB slot on your Personal Computer (PC), which means the computer must be powered on for this to work.
NOTE: Another assumption is a HI_SPEED internet connection.  The thought of using a dial-up modem for this is laughable and ridiculous.  Email me if you don't get the joke.

This device connects via a USB connection and (hidden in this view) has a standard phone connection on the rear of the unit.  Software is installed once the device is installed and naturally it prompts you to create an account with which to make calls.  The unit offers a 30-day guarantee w/ a full refund if you aren't satisfied.

The Personal Computer (PC) I used to set this up was a last-gen Windows XP, with a 2.8 GHz Pentium 4 Central Processing Unit (CPU), 1 GB of ram, and the internet connection was a 1 Mbps connection via a microwave wireless receiver.

Call quality was very good.  My previous experience using A Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) service was extremely poor, but the quality was good, certainly no worse than a cell phone, and nearly indistinguishable from an ordinary phone call.

Performance left something to be desired.  Perhaps it was the internet connection, or the relatively slow PC, but it took on average about 1 min. 15 seconds to load the MJ application and to log in when the computer started up.  Once it was loaded it didn't feel like it slowed the computer down at all, though.

Reliability was a little disappointing. We have experienced a few times when the calls went directly to voicemail, and not to MJ.  This was reported to tech support, and we are testing tech support's fix for this.  Update as of Sept 7: So far it's improved but still not perfect.  Since there was a storm system that took out the microwave tower recently, that could be a partial reason for outages (after the storm).  Since any internet outages will affect your service (your ability to make and receive calls), a factor worth consideration is "how reliable is your internet connection?" For this case MJ was less reliable than a regular phone line.

Expandability was very good, as I was able to plug several phones in (via an inexpensive splitter), plus a fax machine which worked just fine at default settings, no adjustments required.

Cost was very reasonable, @ $39.99 for the first year, approx $20.00 per year after that (which breaks down to about $3.33 per month)  NOTE: Bear in mind that since the PC has to stay on, you will use more electricity than with Vonage, etc. which does not require a PC to be on.

Features: caller ID, voicemail, messages sent via voicemail, (and messages available anywhere).  Portable (take MJ with you on vacation, make free calls from your hotel room, etc.)

Gripes: There are a couple of bruises on the apple here, none of which are too serious, depending on how important these omissions are.

1. PC must be powered on.  Since calls are routed through your PC, it only works when the PC is on (and not in low-power mode)  This means that power saving features of your computer will have to be adjusted for it to work consistently, and it will use more power.
2. Voicemail (VM) and settings are not optional.  VM picks up after 4 rings, then goes to VM.  Would you like it to be 5 or 6 rings?  Sorry, this feature is not available at this time.  Wish you could use an answering machine?  You need to set your phone to pick up before 4 rings, in order to outsmart the MJ VM system.
3. Customer service/tech support: A very shoestring operation here; you will probably wait on hold longer than you should, but they do answer your questions.  Note this is chat only (no email, telephone support).  Kind of ironic that a phone company does not have a phone line.  I suggested they should get a MJ for their own use. (maybe they were missing too many calls):)
4. Missed calls/ calls going to VM.  Not a consistent problem, but if you were using this as your only line it could become frustrating.

Overall the experience has been mostly popular, but my friend may have decided to use a different service (or keep his land line) if he knew about gripe #2 & 4 above.

Competing services include Vonage, other VOIP systems like Skype, and even chat/messaging programs which allow text & voice chat.  While I am not quite sold on this platform, at this price point it's pretty compelling (especially if you intend to use it for outgoing calls, and have your PC on most of the time).

Very happy with my new Tower

So I finally got around to building up my system with this new tower, as Antec 600 series.  I like  the look of it, and with the included fans (a 140mm fan up top, and a 120mm fan in the rear) it manages to be nearly silent (as well as running much cooler).

Here I am putting the hard drive in, still have to install the CPU cooler and video card.

Many small connections need to be made in order for the power, reset buttons and indicator lights to work properly.  I am routing these so they will less visible through the side window...

This fan has an open design, but you need to be especially careful to keep wires, etc. out of the fan's path.  A few zip ties will do the trick.

Ahh, the finished product.  With the extra cooling help, this one runs quiet and cool, with temps (even on hot days) in the high 30-low 40's C.  An extra fan bay on the window gives optional direct cooling for the video card.

My new tower

Sometimes my desktop computer (the one I use for my business, but also for gaming) was overheating, and would randomly restart without any warning.  I should preface this by saying that I loved my old case, a Lian Li Black anodized aluminum case.  It had nice lines and was very sleek looking.  But the orientation of the power supply was vertical (photos pending) and was directly adjacent from the CPU fan.  A recent video card upgrade was the last straw.  It provided the extra heat + demand for power that pushed everything over the edge.
A quick temp reading with my laser thermometer showed a temp of 59 degree Celsius on the video card (GPU) and nearly the same reading on the power supply and CPU/mainboard.  While this is not too hot (relatively speaking), it contributes to the larger problem of heat being trapped in the case with not enough exhaust to pull out the hot air.
So my challenge was to find a way to increase airflow inside the computer to prevent it from overheating.  Since I already had the front fan bay (80mm-medium) and the top exhaust fan (80mm also) being used, the only unused fan ports were small 20mm fan ports on the rear of the case.  This would not provide much additional cooling, and a fan this small would have to spin very fast (and loud) in order to provide any measurable benefit.

In the end I decided to replace my case.  I have purchased an Antec six hundred case. I will be posting again as I assemble the computer again after I get it.  I bought mine from newegg.com and there was even a sale on it!

directions for replacing an LCD panel (generic, not for a specific model)

To replace the LCD is fairly straightforward; you start by turning the PC off, and then remove the rubber feet on the LCD's trim piece.  Also look for small stickers which may also have Phillips head screws beneath them.  A small (size 1, 0, or 00) Phillips screwdriver is needed to remove the screws.  Then gently pry the LCD trim piece from the back cover.  A small, thin standard screwdriver works well for this job.  Gently push the screwdriver into the seam along the edge, prying gently.  It will pop when they come loose, but be careful not to break the small clips on the trim piece.  Once you have a couple of clips separated, then you can remove the remainder by hand; be gentle with it, the tiny clips are easy to break if you are rough with it.

Once the Trim piece is removed, loosen the screws on the hinges, and then remove the tiny Phillips screws on the sides of the hinges. (You will need the smallest screwdriver for this part)  Gently unplug the ribbon cable (the video cable) on the back of the LCD panel, and from the inverter as well.  You can then remove the bad LCD panel.

Be very cautious in handling the new LCD panel.  They are sensitive to ESD (electro static discharge) as well as having a sensitive strip across the rear backside of the panel.  Avoid touching this area, and handle gently by the edges.  Leave the protective film on the screen’s surface during installation. (If applicable)  You can remove tape just before reattaching the LCD trim to minimize potential damage to your new screen.

Install the new LCD screen by connecting the video cable and inverter cable, then reattach the LCD trim, remove the protective film (if applicable), then install screws and feet in reverse order.  You should then be able to power on your laptop.

Win 7 installation

Next, I installed Windows 7 on this laptop.  I purchased a copy through the MS Ultimate Steal, which is a great deal for college students (yes, I am a college student).  There is a verification process, but the savings were well worth it, and you can buy Windows 7 Pro + Office Pro for a fraction of what the same will cost you at retail.  Google "MS ultimate steal" for more info. (You need a pretty fast internet connection for this, since you download the software after you complete purchase).  I passed on the backup software and saved an extra $14+tax.  (I burned the installation file to a DVD, so I do have a backup copy).
I was pleasantly surprised to find that Windows installed the sound and network driver software for this unit, leaving me only a few minor things to install.  In this case, I ended up using the Windows Vista webcam software since there was not one available for Win 7. So far it works fine; I am using a 32-bit version of Win 7, so there is less difference in the software.  The 64-bit version would probably not work on my 32 bit version of windows, so I count myself luck to find the right one.
Once I was done with this, naturally there were a bunch of updates for it to be done.  Installing Office 2007 Pro created a bunch more updates, so I spent the rest of the day updating this machine.

New laptop for my wife

I am hoping to share my knowledge of computers and helping others to help others avoid some of these pitfalls.  Just so that you can know a little about me, I am a computer gamer-turned computer technician-turned small business owner.

My most recent project was refurbishing an HP laptop for my wife.  This was a dv6 series laptop, and it had a bad LCD panel, which had been damaged, and needed replacement.  As luck would have it, I had a different HP (this one a dv6000) that had a nearly identical screen.  A quick check revealed that the LCD panel I had was a perfect match for my wife's PC, and all I had to do was to also transfer the LCD inverter along with the LCD panel.  Everything went smoothly and the laptop worked really well, but I decided to upgrade it to Windows 7.

After running the Win 7 upgrade adviser, and receiving "no problems" from it, I decided to proceed.