The Little Geeni

I have put together a list of some basic, more advanced and fun google hacks to help improve and refine your search

An asterisk (*) is used represents any wordGoogle advanced operators help refine searches.

The plus sign (+) is used to force a search of a very common word for example “the” . Use the minus sign (-) to exclude any term from your search. Dont put a space after these signs.

Searching  for a particular phrase, put double quotes(” “) each side of the phrase.

A full stop (.) is used to represent any single character.

More advanced operations need to use a syntax :

operator:search_term

Again don’t put a space between the operator, the colon, and the search term.

The site: operator is instructing Google to restrict a search to a specific web site or domain. Type the website URL after the colon.

The intitle: Google  searches for a term within the title of a document.

The filetype: operator instructs Google to search only within the text of a particular type of file. The file type to search must be supplied after the colon. Don’t put a full stop (.) before the file extension.

The inurl: operator instructs Google to search only within the URL (web address) of a document. Place your search term directly after the colon

The link:  Google  searches within hyperlinks for your particular search term.

The cache: operator displays the version of a web page as it appeared when Google crawled the site. Type the website URL after the colon.

And now for some fun ones

Type xx-klingon in google and click I’m feeling lucky (http://www.google.com/intl/xx-klingon/) believe it or not this is google in klingon!

Type Google Easter egg in the search box and click I’m feeling lucky (http://www.google.com/Easter/feature_easter.html) Help the google easter bunny catch the easter eggs.

Type Gothengine in the search box and click I’m feeling lucky ( http://www.gothengine.com/ ) Google gothic search for goths and emos.

Others include elgoog, google santa and google loco.

Google Google, Guide, Hacks

Here are some troubleshooting guides for particular topics.

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(1) Your Virtual Network Connection

(2) VPN Troubleshooting Error Messages

(3) VPN Modems Troubleshooting Guide

(4) VPN ISP Troubleshooting Guide.

(1) Your Virtual Private Network Connection

Having trouble connecting to the Internet at home try these steps before calling for help.

1. Do you have an IP address? Try ipconfig /all. If you do not have an IP address reboot your PC. If that doesnt work power cycle your Cable/DSL modem and routers and reboot your PC again after the network devices are up and stable. Be sure all of your network cables are plugged in tight.

2. After your PC reboots check that your network adapter is active and packets are flowing. Perform the ipconfig /all check again.

3. Check your connectivity by pinging several Internet sites. If that does not work, ping the loopback address 127.0.0.1. If that fails, your adapter may not be working or it is not properly configured.

To check your IP address. From command prompt enter ipconfig /all (as shown in the picture) you should see an IP Address and several DNS Server addresses. The domain name system (DNS) is the way that Internet domain names are located and translated into IP addresses and is required for browsing the Internet.

Ping 127.0.0.1 – loopback Test (as shown in the picture). The loopback test is used to check if the IP stack is responding. If it times out or you get an error the problem may occur if any one or more of the following conditions is true:

*The TCP drivers are corrupted

*The network adapter is not working

*Another service is interfering with IP

Check your network adapter, click the Start menu, Settings, Control Panel, and select Network Connections. Double click on the Local Area Connection or the Wireless Adapter whichever one you are using. Be sure its Connected. If you have multiple network cards disable the one you are not using.

There should be Packets displayed in both the Sent and Received counters. If the Received counter is 0 check that the adapter has an IP address. Select Properties.

Click the check boxes for Show icon and Notify me below. A twin PC icon will appear on the lower right portion of the taskbar in the tray area and will flash while sending and receiving packets. You can place your mouse over the icon to get the status and click on it to get more details.

Tracert displays the connection path to the target location and the number of hops. Each hop is the trip from one router to another. Tracert is a handy tool both for understanding where problems are in the network and for determining latency between hops.

Ping is used to determine whether a host exists and is active on the network and can determine the round trip time to the device. You can enter a host name or an IP address if you know it. If the request times out then the host is not reachable because it’s offline or there is a problem with the connection. Try several sites, if none work then ping the loopback address 127.0.0.1 Also, if your DNS is not working or properly configured you can only ping the host with an IP address and you will not be able to browse the Internet.

If you are having intermittent problems, perform a ping –t for 5 to 6 minutes then hit CTRL C to see the results of the test to determine if you are dropping network packets (lost packets). If you are, this usually indicates an ISP problem or Cable/DSL modem problem. See VPN ISP Troubleshooting Guide

(2) VPN Troubleshooting Error Messages

Q1 Error Message: Remote Host not responding: or Unable to Resolve the IP address of the Remote Server

Cause: This indicates that the Contivity VPN Switch never responded to the connection attempt. The problem could either be with the Contivity switch itself, (switch may be down) or your machine may be having a problem resolving the IP address.

Action: Try pinging your destination name (Example: VPN.something.com). If you received a message that says “Request Timed Out” from the ping command, call your ISP to make sure that their DNS is functioning correctly.

Q2 Error Message: Maximum number of sessions reached

Cause: This indicates that the maximum number of users for the account you are using are currently logged on.

Action: If you are the only user with VPN to your account, it is possible to get this error if you restarted a connection immediately after losing the dial-up connection to your ISP. This is because the Contivity VPN Switch takes up to one hour to determine that your connection has been dropped and log you off from your account.

Q3 Error Message: Login failed, Please consult the switch log for further information

Cause: The User Name or the Password is incorrect for the user name entered.

Action: Verify that the User Name you entered is correct and retype the Password before trying the connection again.

Q4 Error Message: The physical connection has been lost

Cause: Your connection to your ISP was disconnected.

Action: Re-establish your connection to your ISP before you re-establish the Contivity connection to the remote network.

Q5 Error Message: The secure Contivity connection has been lost

This message can result due to a number of different reasons, and there are several recommended actions you can take to try and re-connect.

Cause(s):

If you receive this error before the client connects then something is blocking a necessary port (such as ESP port 50). This can result if your firewall is not configured properly and is restricting the necessary port(s).

If you receive this error during a connection and you suddenly get the error it may mean one of the following:

1. Something closed the connection;

2. The VPN Contivity switch where you were trying to connect to thought your client was down or timed out;

3. Your local ISP did something that interrupted your network connection long enough for the VPN Contivity switch to identify your client was not responding;

4. The VPN Contivity switch that you are connected to has either logged your connection off or the Switch is no longer responding, or a device that does not support IPSEC NAT Traversal is causing the connection failure.

Action(s):

1. Try re-establishing the Contivity connection by clicking the Connect button. If this works, the connection was probably lost due to the Idle Timeout configured on the Contivity VPN Switch. If no data is transferred through the Contivity connection for a long period of time, 15 minutes or more, the Contivity VPN Switch automatically disconnects the connection;

2. If you were unable to successfully re-establish the Contivity Connection, the dial-up connection may be preventing data from traveling between the Contivity VPN Client and the Contivity VPN Switch. Hang up the dial-up connection and reconnect before you try to re-establish a connection to the Contivity VPN Switch;

3. If you are still unable to connect to the Contivity VPN Switch, open a Command Prompt and try pinging the Contivity VPN Switch using the host name or address that you specified in the Destination field.

(a) If you receive a “Destination Unreachable error” there is a routing problem at the ISP.

(b) If you receive a “Request Timed Out” error message, the Contivity VPN Switch is probably not available, and you should contact your Network Administrator.

4. If you keep getting this message and are unable to connect, then it may indicate that the Contivity VPN Switch is unable to communicate with the client because it is behind some kind of NAT (Network Address Translation) device. NAT (Network Address Translation) Traversal allows a number of devices on a private network to access the Internet simultaneously without each requiring its own external IP address. Most hotels and airports that provide Internet connectivity use NAT to connect to the Internet.

Q6 Error Message: Cannot Alter Routing Table

Cause: Message means the you the user, an application on your machine, or your ISP attempted to change the routing table via an ICMP redirect attempt and it was not successful. The client detects the attempt to make the change, determines it’s a security breach and shuts down the client’s connection. Any time you make a VPN connection, you cannot change the routing table, because the VPN Client views this as a security risk and you will get disconnected.

Some applications require an ICMP redirection in order to work such as a game or other third party software.

Action: If you receive this error and cant connect due to an ICMP redirect attempt, shut down any other applications you are using which may be causing the ICMP redirect attempt. If it is the ISP that is doing it, you will need to block the ICMP redirect request. You can identify that ICMP redirect has occurred, by seeing a message saying there has been an IP address routing table change.

Q7 Error Message: Receiving Banner Text Information

Cause: Message means you are experiencing a Banner Sock issue, and will see a window displaying the “Receiving Banner Text” message and then gets disconnected.

Actions:

1. Disable the firewall completely to test. This is a port 500 issue and often means that the you have a personal Firewall that is blocking port 500 or you have a router that does not support IPSEC pass-through, and the you are connecting to a VPN switch that does not have NAT Traversal enabled.

2. If using wireless, temporarily remove Wireless from the picture and focus on the Ethernet card. Check the Ethernet card speed and duplex parameters and then make sure that the hub, switch, or router that is on the other end has the same parameters. If not, the VPN connection will drop as the link goes up and down, or due to a large number of errors on the port from a duplex and or speed mismatch.

3. Firewall that blocks the connection, such that system will crash. (This will rarely happen) NSDF (Norton Symantec Desktop Firewall) and NSPF (Norton Symantec Personal Firewall) can do this though, if you do not trust the IP address of the VPN connection.

If you do not trust the VPN address of the VPN client, the firewall will cause you to crash. In your Internet browser click on “Tools > Internet Options > Security > Trusted Sites > Sites” and add the destination VPN address(es) to your trusted sites.

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Q8 Error Message: You already have the maximum number of adapters installed

Cause: You may have installed to many virtual adapters in your IP Stack

Actions:

1. Remove any unnecessary adapters;

2. Create multiple boot scenarios disabling the adapters that are not required for that function;

3. You may also get Banner Sock errors on Win 95 & 98 units with this condition;

4. For more information, see this Microsoft article: KB217744: Unable to Bind Protocols to More Than 5 Network Adapters (copy and paste into the search tool bar > enter).

Q9 Upgrade Errors: The following are some errors that may occur when trying to upgrade / install the Nortel VPN Client 4.65

Error (1): Failed to get Registry key value for NT_IPSECSHM

Cause: This is caused because an important registry key that cannot be found in the system registry.

Actions:

1. Uninstall and Reinstall the VPN Software

Error (2): Login Failure due to: Driver Failure

Cause: This is generally caused by either not having Admin rights to the PC or by trying to install/use a Nortel VPN client that predates the operating system.

Actions:

1. Ensure that you have admin rights to the PC.

2. Update/Install the most current version of the Nortel VPN client.

Error (3): Create socket failed with 10048.

Cause: This problem generally will occur whenever you have another VPN client software installed on the system. The most noted conflicting clients are: AOL, Cisco VPN Client(s), SSH Sentinel and PGP.

Actions:

1. Removing these clients will in most cases, resolve the issue.

(3) VPN Modems Troubleshooting Guide

Q1 Are Cable Modems supported for VPN Access?

Yes, you can use cable modems for VPN access. However you must be aware of the following conditions and be able to work within them:

*Some cable modems require that you log into an NT network to get authenticated.

*Some cable modems use a client similar to the Extranet Client for VPN and both will not run at the same time.

*Some cable modem Contracts/Acceptable Use Policies specify that you cannot use them for business purposes or they want to charge you another fee to use them for business purposes. Make sure you read your contract thoroughly.

*Your Cable modem provider is your ISP. Please see the VPN-connection-guide.html”>ISP Troubleshooting Guide for more information.

Q2 Why does my modem seem to perform erratically?

Always make sure that you do not let the operating system select a generic modem. If required, go to the appropriate web site for the vendor of the modem and get the updated INF file so that the proper parameters are configured for the modem.

Q3 Why do I always seem to get a slower connection speed than others with the same modem?

1. Always check the modem configuration to verify that its maximum speed has been selected.

2. It is common when auto-installing modems that the highest speed is not selected automatically.

3. Do not check the box that says run at maximum speed only.

Q4 I plugged my modem into the phone line at the hotel or customers office and now it does not work.

Always make sure that the phone line you are plugging into when visiting somewhere is an analog line not a digital one. Plugging into a digital line can permanently damage your modem, requiring a replacement unit. To avoid these situations please contact the local site phone support personnel.

Q5 Why cant I get a 56Kb V.90 connection from some locations that I go to?

Here are some of the reasons why you might not get a 56K connection:

1. You are located more than 3 ½ miles from your telephone companys central office (CO).

2. A SLICK or Subscriber Loop System is used in your area.

3. You are calling from a digital PBX system, which creates a Digital to Analog conversion and then an Analog to Digital conversion.

4. Your line contains digital pads or Robbed Bit Signaling (RBS), which can degrade your connection speeds.

5. Your wiring may be of poor quality.

6. Your modem’s firmware may not be up-to-date. Check that your modem has the newest V.90 code installed with all the patches from the vendor’s web site.

Q6 Why cant I get higher speed on my 56K v.90 modem into some NAG?

Here are some possible reasons:

1. A 56k v.90 modem is asymmetric by design where download speed can be as much as 56k but upload speed will be up to 33.6bps. For 56k to work, there must be only one analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion in your local phone loop. Thus when modems at both ends are analogue, 56k speeds will never be achieved as most PSTN exchanges run digital routing between the exchanges.

2. Some NAG sites use analog phone lines with Cisco and standard 56k modems, and most PC’s dial-ups use a similar modem. Between the two modems, it limits the download speed to about 33.6kbps maximum.

3. Also, many users might experience lower connection speeds due to other reasons, such as more poor line quality. These factors will also contribute to the quality and speed of the line.

(4) VPN ISP Troubleshooting Guide

Q1 If you are getting the message “Unable to Resolve the IP address of the Remote Server. Verify the Host Name in the destination field is correct.” when trying to connect with the Extranet Client.

Try pinging your destination name (Example: VPN.something.com) and if it fails call your ISP to make sure that their DNS is functioning correctly.

Q2 Why do I get No Domain Available when dialing my ISP?

On your Internet Service Providers (ISP) dial connection. Right click the mouse and select the properties button. Click on the Server Type tab and make sure that the Log On To Network box is unchecked.

Q3 Why do I seem to be running slowly through my VPN connection?

Try turning off the Software Compression option on your Internet Service Providers (ISP) dial connection as the VPN client has it’s own compression. Right click the mouse and select the properties button. Click on the Server Type tab and uncheck the

Q4 I keep getting busy signals when trying to connect to my ISP, what should I do?

Contact your ISP giving the numbers you are trying to connect to. Many times you will find that can give you an alternate number not published yet that will work just fine. If not you may need to find another ISP that provides better service.

Q5 When configuring the dial icon for my ISP what should I put in the DNS/WINS settings?

Your ISP should supply you with the DNS/WINS settings of your dial connection. Most only give you DNS, in this case just leave the WINS settings blank.

Q6 Why when I load the Extranet Client on my PC and Winpoet is installed on my machine it crashes or does not work properly?

There are issues running Winpoet software on the PC with the Nortel Extranet (VPN) Client.

To repair your system, boot in safe mode and uninstall the Winpoet Software.

A simple solution is to install the Linksys BEFSR41 hardware router. It has a firmware PPPOE connector, which eliminates Winpoet from the PC and provides the added benefit a NAT firewall with the ability to hook up to three other PCs.

A second option is to find a PPPOE Client that does not interfere with VPN Clients.

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Troubleshooting Guide, Treo, Troubleshooting

A computer forensics specialist is a person who is an expert in recovering lost technological data without disrupting or tampering with the device. It takes a whole lot of skills and patience to get back deleted or corrupted data from hard drives, cell phones, and computers and so on. What a specialist does is put his knowledge to work and apply his skills into revering what is necessary to help the police department in solving cyber crimes and such. If you’ve always found such work to be exciting or appealing, then here’s a simple guide on how to become a computer forensics specialist.

First, get an education. You would need to obtain you degree in computer forensics and work your way on from there. You could also just get a degree in accounting or computer science and learn your hands on skills through working in the field and picking up tips along the way. If you want, once you’ve gotten your degree, you could obtain a certificate in computer forensics to increase the chances of job opportunity.

Next, once you step into the working world, don’t go for the big things straight away but start small and gain all the experience you can. Seek jobs at law enforcement sectors such as police departments and those alike as they’ve got a huge computer database that require your specialty to keep it well organized. Once you think you’re ready to venture out for bigger things, look up your national computer forensics industry and start your career there. With enough confidence, you could start your own company and provide service to the government to help solve cyber crimes and so on.

All in all, you can make it big if you try. Don’t chase your big dreams right away as you would always need to start from some ground work. You may think that the small jobs are too small for you, but the hands on experience gives you great exposure and will increase your confidence in your own work as well. So go on out and start your journey to your career.

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Introduction

Computer problems can be upsetting. But most of them are minor and can be repaired easily, so don’t panic and take a deep breathe when pc problems happen to you.

Basic computer repair / pc troubleshooting tips and guide:

1. Check the power strip connection. Is the power indicator light lit? Make sure the power switch is turned on and to the correct AC voltage. Then shut down the power and check all the cables of your computer such as data cables, power cable, internal circuitry cables and cards if possible and devices like mouse, keyboard, monitor, etc. and make sure that everything is seated properly and working fine. You can push the cables or devices gently. Sometimes you need to actually unplug them from the computer and then plug in again.

2. When you notice a software or hardware error in your computer, try to find out what was changed before the problem occurred. In the meantime, you can google the error message and find a fix to the problem. The following are some common error messages and solutions:

a. “Non-System disk or disk error”: remove non-system diskette, USB, CD inserted before starting computer.
b. “Windows was not properly shut down. One or more of your disk drives may have errors on it.  Press any key to run ScanDisk on these drives.”: Press the enter key and allow the machine to do a scan and fix the problems.
c. “Not enough memory / Insufficient memory”: Close some programs and try again.
d. “My monitor is black”: Check power and cable connection. Check if it is in sleep mode, especially laptop.
e. “No sound”: Check if the speaker is plugged into the wrong socket, MIC. Also check Mute? Volume?
f. “Computer freezes”: Try Ctrl+Alt+Del. If it does not work, force the computer to power off by keeping on pressing power key until the pc shuts down. Then wait for about 10-15 seconds and re-start computer.

3. Use the event viewer utility by going to Start –> Control panel –> Administrative tools –> Event viewer. By using this tool, you will find the error or warning messages associated with any faulty hardware or software.
4. Check the hardware settings in the device manager of the system and make sure all the device drivers is up to date and working properly, that is, there is no error sign shown.
5. When you find a faulty component in your computer, you should check it with the other good computers so that you can make sure whether the component has problems or not before buying a new one.
6. If the above is ok and your computer still has problems, it might be the cause of virus or the registry / system files corrupted. You can find related tools to fix the problem. If the problem is serious, consider to re-install the Operating System. It is recommended that you create two partitions. One is for your OS and the other is for your data.
7. Finally, it is important to take a detailed note for future use.

Conclusion

When you try to repair a computer, it is important to find out what you did before and also your focus should be on power supply, video, mother board, CPU and the hard drive.

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So you’ve heard the news: a new technology is around that lets you make phone calls, even long-distance phone calls, for free! You’d like to try it, but it sounds rather complicated. What is this VoIP, anyway? Here’s a quick question-and-answer guide to VoIP and how you can make free online calls without reading tons of technical jargon.

What is VoIP?
VoIP means Voice over Internet Protocol. In plain English, it means that in exactly the same way you use the Internet to send letters through email, you can now send your voice through VoIP, to make free phone calls to anywhere in the world.

How does it work?
1. You talk through your computer microphone or your VoIP phone.
2. Your voice is turned into computer data.
3. It is sent through the Internet (like email) to your VoIP service provider.
4. They send it to the phone number you are calling so your friend can receive your call.
5. When your friend talks on his phone, his voice reaches you the same way, but in reverse: from his phone, to your service provider, to your Internet, to your phone or computer.

How is the sound quality different from a regular phone?
With good Internet connection, your friend won’t know the difference. If your connection is slow, you will sound like you are calling from a cellphone with bad signal. Most companies will not install VoIP for dial-up connections.

What is a VoIP service provider?
A VoIP service provider is like a phone company that connects your VoIP phone to your friend’s landline.

What is a VoIP phone?
It looks like a regular phone, but it has a software and modem installed so you can connect to the Internet and make VoIP calls without having to turn on your computer. You dial it like a regular phone, and if somebody calls your VoIP number, it rings like a regular phone.

Are the phone calls really free?
Yes, if you download and install on your computer a VoIP software, like Skype. This will let you make free calls to anyone in the world who has the same software loaded in his or her computer.

You can also use Skype or other VoIP service providers to call a local or long-distance landline number or mobile phone. There will be a small charge, but it is still much cheaper than if you use a regular phone to make your call. In addition, pay features on regular phones-like call waiting, call forwarding, call barring, conference calls, caller ID and voice mail-are usually free on VoIP.

Rates and features vary with different service providers so be sure to ask your company what they offer.

Can I call my friends even if they don’t have VoIP?
Yes.

And can my friends call me?
Yes. Your friends can call your VoIP number in the same way they call a regular landline. You won’t be charged for incoming calls. Your friends will be charged for their call in the same way that they will be charged for calling a regular landline.

Can I keep my old phone number?
Yes, depending on your VoIP service provider. Sometimes, you can even bring your VoIP phone-along with your phone number – to anywhere that has a high-speed Internet connection.

Some providers also allow you to get a phone number with a different area code. You could be in California but have a New York area code so that your business clients in New York can call you without long-distance charges. (However, if your next-door neighbor calls you, it will be long-distance for her.)

Can I get rid of my regular phone line?
Usually, yes. Again, it depends on your VoIP service provider.

An important note, though: 911 calls made through VoIP are unreliable. Also, they will not be able to track your location automatically, as when you are using a regular phone. If you get rid of your phone line, consider using your cellphone instead of your VoIP to call 911.

So, what do I need to use VoIP?

A high-speed Internet connection. This means DSL or cable, NOT dial-up.
A regular phone with VoIP adaptor OR a VoIP phone OR a computer with a microphone and earpiece.
A VoIP service provider.

Can I use VoIP without an Internet connection?
No.

Can I use my computer while talking on the VoIP phone?
Absolutely, although using the Internet for other purposes while using VoIP may affect the quality of your call.

Can I use VoIP without a computer?
Yes, if you have a VoIP phone and your Internet is active.

Can I use VoIP without a VoIP phone line?
Yes, if you have a computer with a VoIP program, a microphone and earpiece.

Will it work in a power outage?
Unfortunately, no.

How do I know if VoIP is for me?
VoIP is a great money-saving option for people who are always on the Internet, and VoIP is a great money-saving option for people who have a high-speed connection.

VoIP is a great money-saving option for people who often make calls to long-distance, international, or mobile numbers.

VoIP is a great money-saving option for people who move around the country, and VoIP is a great money-saving option for people who would like to take their landline number with them wherever they go.

VoIP is a great money-saving option for people who need to have an area code in another locality.

How do I find a VoIP service provider?
For VoIP calls using your computer, you can simply download a VoIP program like Skype or Vonage from the Internet.

To find a service provider for VoIP phones, simply type “VoIP” and the name of your country in the search bar of your favorite Internet search engine.

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For those of you looking to console gaming on a budget, then older systems are definitely worth considering. Playstation 2s are becoming more common on the second hand market as more and more are upgrading to the vastly superior Playstation 3, as is the original XBox with owners again upgrading. Don’t always expect a lot of games as many sellers will keep a lot of their games to use on their newer consoles but you should still be able to grab a bargain or two. Games for both are still easy to pick up on the high street at knock-down prices so they’re still worth thinking about.

Onto the current wave of consoles and this is where you will have to give more consideration about what system you want to buy as each has its advantages and disadvantages.

Nintendo’s Wii is targeted more at a family audience as most of its games demonstrate and it takes a fairly novel approach to gaming with its innovative motion-sensitive controller. It’s certainly not the most technologically advanced of all of the consoles, hence its lower price, but it has proved to be incredibly popular. Because of the lower retail price, this is the cheapest way to get into “next-gen” gaming, but more serious gamers might be put off by the family bias in the catalogue of games available.

Since it’s launch the XBox 360 has proven to be a smash hit despite confusion over the different models available. It’s a very powerful system with the most extensive range of games available of all of the latest machines at present. There have been some technical issues with the hardware and reliability problems experiences by some users and there does seem to be an over-reliance on PC-style games but for the hard-core gamer this shouldn’t be a problem. If you’re on the lookout for a second hand model, your best bet here if you are looking for a machine as cheap as possible is the “Arcade” version of the XBox 360 which comes without a hard drive (which you could add yourself later), but if you’re more serious about gaming, then you are better off spending the extra to buy one of the other models.

The Playstation 3 is still something of an enigma to many. It suffered from a rocky start due to an incredibly high retail price, and a poor selection of games, hampered further by high game prices. This is changing now following the price drop and game releases seem to be coming out on a par with the XBox 360. The one concern that owners did have was that many early games were almost identical to those on the XBox 360, despite the PS3’s superior capabilities. This is starting to be addressed now so players will start to see the real difference between the machines… not to mention the fact that the PS3 is also a rather nifty Blu-Ray player!

As these hardware differences really start to become noticeable, you may start to see some XBox 360 owners making the switch to the PS3 (as was seen in the high street following the PS3’s price drop in late 2007) so this could start to see more second hand XBox 360s appearing on the market so it could prove to be a bargain entry-level machine if you want to join the latest wave of next-generation gamers.

Some second hand PS3s do turn up however but buying second hand is complicated as there are two models available. The current machine comes complete with a 40Gb hard drive, but the original model was released with a 60Gb hard drive. As well as that there are other subtle changes to the new model. The new version no longer has the memory card slots for digital cameras (although this is no great loss), there are now only two USB ports instead of four, and it is no longer compatible with Playstation 2 games. While Sony argued that many users didn’t need this feature, if it is something that’s essential then you are either going to want to track down the 60Gb model (which are selling for a premium price) or settle for owning both a 40Gb Playstation 3 AND buying a Playstation 2 as well.

One thing I would say is that – no matter what console you buy – is to make sure that you try to stick to the European models of the machines and not be tempted by a Japanese or American import. While some of these may be cheaper, you will have problems getting them repaired when things go wrong and most consoles are restricted to playing games (and DVDs) to a specific part of the world so buying Imported consoles could make life difficult for yourself in the long term.

For the older games players looking to reminisce over their youth, there is continual interest in retro gaming and while old computers and games consoles don’t tend to appear in classified adverts too often, they can be fantastic value for money. The obvious great bargains are the seminal classics Commodore 64 and Sinclair Spectrum along with the Sega Megadrive and Nintendo SNES. The great thing with retro gaming is that old consoles and computers generally hold very little value to anyone apart from those looking to buy them, so you can often pick up some fantastic deals, just don’t always expect all of the games and accessories to be in full working order!

Looking into the PC camp, prices of new PCs are dropping daily and hardware is becoming more reliable. While this is great if you are buying new, it makes buying second hand systems harder when you are looking to get a PC that will be able to run more contemporary software and nigh-on-impossible if you’re on a shoestring budget.

The first thing to always bear in mind when shopping for a second hand PC is what you’re going to need it for. I know this sounds like an obvious question to ask but it’s something that a lot of people don’t always think about and just decide that they want a PC and nothing else. If all you are looking for is a PC for simple home use (word processing etc), basic games and using the internet then you are not going to need a state-of-the-art computer and as such your budget will stretch a lot further.

While most retailers will push you into buying the latest all-singing, all-dancing PC running Windows Vista, you’re not going to need this if your needs are fairly simple. You should be able to manage with an older PC running Windows XP, a 64Mb or 128Mb graphics card, and an 80Gb hard drive. In terms of memory, 512Mb would be more than enough to suit pretty much any user for most casual games to keep the average family happy.

While a flat screen monitor would be a great addition to this sort of set-up, most of the more affordable deals would be likely to come with older style CRT screens but all of this shouldn’t set you back more than £200, possibly even with a printer thrown in from the right seller! If you do find a PC with lower specifications than those mentioned, it’s not too hard to upgrade cheaply.

For the serious games player who is looking for something capable of running more contemporary games then you are really looking at having to spend a lot more and despite its flaws, will have no choice but to look for a PC running Windows Vista. Whatever PC you go for here, you are going to need something with at least 1Gb of RAM, 256Mb graphics card and a 120Gb hard drive or larger. Anything less than these and – to be perfectly frank – it just isn’t worth trying to run Vista properly.

Laptops are a different matter altogether. They DO seem to hold their value better but you have to remember that if you want to run games, you are better off buying a desktop that you can expand as most laptops aren’t really suited for gaming other than casual or older games.

The obvious drawback with laptops is that once you have bought it, you can’t upgrade it so you have to be certain that the specifications of the machine you buy is exactly what you need from the start. Equally, from the start laptops are generally behind desktop PCs in terms of their capabilities in relation to the price you can expect to pay so you are already at an immediate disadvantage so if you even think that you may want to do more with your PC in the long term, then a desktop will always be your best option. Price wise though I’d say you’re going to be looking at about 25-50% more than the cost of the equivalent desktop PC including monitor.

Another point to bear in mind with laptops is how you intend to use it. If is meant to be your main day-to-day PC then you have to take into consideration that laptops can overheat very easily so they need plenty of ventilation, need to be used on flat surfaces and shouldn’t really be used for more than a few hours at a time without a break. This applies even more so with older models that have seen plenty of use as the components can wear out all-too quickly. Some brands are more susceptible to this than others but I have only found a few that seem to be able to cope with being left on for hours on end and work as a desktop replacement.

To be perfectly honest, if this is something that might be of concern to you then you might want to reconsider laptops as laptop repairs can be frighteningly expensive – especially if it is a fault caused by overheating – and will almost certainly cost more than the price of a second hand laptop!

I’ve barely scratched the surface with games consoles and PCs and haven’t even looked at PC software and accessories – those two would cover another article of their own – but hopefully this will give you a few pointers and steer you in the right direction when making some of your second hand computing / gaming purchases.

One thing I can’t stress enough is that when you do buy a second hand PC or games console is to try to see them working before handing over your money but as long as you can do that and just be aware of what you are buying and how much you’re paying, you should be able to develop your hobby further without having to break the bank.

Have fun!

Computer Games Buyer’s, Computing, Gaming, Guide

The term ‘Virus’ has not just created havoc in life of living beings but also in the world of computers. Though the two kinds of viruses are completely different from each other yet both can prove extremely fatal.

Virus in computers can be defined as a program or a piece of code that is loaded onto your computer without your knowing it and it runs against your wishes. The computer viruses are manmade and can easily replicate themselves. A simple virus can duplicate itself time and again and it is quite easy to produce. Even a simple virus can swallow the entire memory of your system and stop it’s working while a slightly more dangerous or strong virus can transmit it across networks and bypass the security systems. Viruses can be transmitted as attachments to an e-mail note or in a download file, or be present on a diskette or CD. Some viruses cast their effect as soon as their code is executed; other viruses lie inactive until circumstances cause their code to be executed by the computer.

But gone are the days when viruses and diseases caused by them were left untreated. Just as people have developed cures to protect themselves, they have also invented something to safeguard their computer against the devastating threat of virus. The device that is meant to detect virus is called anti-virus.

An anti-virus program can be defined as a utility that searches a hard disk for any known or potential viruses and eliminates any that are found. Anti-virus software comprises of computer programs that attempt to identify, obstruct and eradicate computer viruses and other harmful software.

Every anti-virus software functions according to two techniques with a special focus on the first one –

(1) Examining i.e. scanning files to check familiar viruses that match the definitions in a virus dictionary.

(2) Identifying any malfunctioning software that indicates infection. Such analysis includes data captures, port monitoring and other methods.

While examining any file, the anti-virus software refers to a dictionary of known viruses that are already identified by the authors of the anti-virus software. The moment the code of a virus matches with the virus detected in the dictionary, the anti-virus software at first tries to repair the software by removing the virus itself from the file. If the virus is not removed at this stage then the software quarantines the file in a way that file remains inaccessible to other programs and the virus ceases to harm the system any more. Finally if the virus still continues to exist, the software deletes the infected file.

In order to function correctly and in a right manner the virus dictionary approach needs regular updates that involves downloads of updated virus dictionary entries. The anti-virus software that works in accordance to a dictionary typically scrutinizes files and spontaneously detects a virus when the operating system of the computer creates, opens, and closes or e-mails them. However a System Administrator can program the anti-virus software to examine or scan all the files on the user’s hard disk on a routine basis.

Computer Security Guide, journal, Network, Security

Network security is vitally important for most business systems. Whilst email viruses and denial-of-service attacks (DoS attack) may cause us headaches on our home systems, for businesses, these sorts of attacks can cripple a network for days – costing businesses hundreds of millions each year in lost revenue.

Keeping a network secure to prevent this type of malicious attack is usually of paramount importance for network administrators, and while most invest heavily in some forms of security measures there is often vulnerabilities inadvertently left exposed.

Firewalls are the best place to begin when you are trying to develop a secure network. A firewall can be implemented in either hardware or software, or most commonly a combination of both. Firewalls are used to prevent unauthorized users from accessing private networks connected to the Internet, especially local intranets. All traffic entering or leaving the intranet pass through the firewall, which examines each message and blocks those that do not meet the specified criteria.

Anti-virus software works in two ways. Firstly it acts similarly to a firewall by blocking anything that is identified in its database as possibly malicious (viruses, Trojans, spyware etc). Secondly Anti-virus software is used to detect, and remove existing malware on a network or workstation.

One of the most over-looked aspects of network security is time synchronization. Network administrators either fail to realise the importance of synchronization between all devices on a network. Failing to synchronize a network is often a common security issue. Not only can malicious users take advantage of computers running at different times but if a network is struck by an attack, identifying and rectifying the problem can be near impossible if every device is running on a different time.

Even when a network administrator is aware of the importance of time synchronization they often make a common security mistake when attempting to synchronize their network. Instead of investing in a dedicated time server that receives a secure source of UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) externally from their network using atomic clock sources like GPS, some network administrators opt to use a shortcut and use a source of Internet time.

There are two major security issues in using the Internet as a time server. Firstly, to allow the time code through the network a UDP port (123) has to be left open in the firewall. This can be taken advantage of by malicious users who can use this open port as an entrance to the network. Secondly, the inbuilt security measure used by the time protocol NTP, known as authentication, doesn’t work across the Internet which means that NTP has no guarantee the time signal is coming from where it is supposed to.

To ensure your network is secure isn’t it time you invested in an external dedicated NTP time server?

Computer Security –Beginners, Guide, Keeping, Network, Secure

Network security is an important issue, because of the dependence and utilization of computer networks in order to store, access, and provide business information, internally within an organization and externally to customers and suppliers. The information held on your organization’s network plays a vital part in your organization’s day-to-day operations.

Everyone knows this, and if anyone has any doubt then take away their computer for a day or two! But, knowing this is often not enough to convince middle or senior management that network security is an important business issue.It is particularly suited to IS executives, administrators and managers who wish to review their own network security procedures or for those who simply want to learn more about thenetwork security issues that face their organization.

The book covers a broad range of issues, starting with an assessment of network security, including the financial implications of security breaches, and moving on to discuss the different types of security threats facing computer networks. Particular attention is also given to the legal framework for network security. Attention is then turned to increasing security awareness and readiness, including system configuration, acceptable use, business continuity, and explaining technical solutions available such as firewalls and content control.

Introduction of a security policy is widely accepted as best practise in informing and educating users, and the final chapter is devoted to policy writing. By the end of the book readers should be ready to create and implement a network security policy for their organization and start reducing overheads and downtime immediately! *Discusses all the relevant issues with a concise, straightforward, and readily accessible approach.

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Computer Security Guide, Network, practical, Security

Most people think that the work of a heavy equipment operator is limited to operating a heavy tipping truck or a bulldozer. This is not true. There are many other heavy machinery and equipment that a heavy equipment operator requires to be proficient in operating. In addition, the job is not gender specific, and this field offers employment both to men and women. If you are able to operate large and heavy machinery, are prepared to work in a team, have adequate communication skills, and are ready to accept suggestions for improvement, you can certainly be successful in pursuing a career as a heavy equipment operator.

The job of a heavy equipment operator does not fall under any designated profession or trade. A heavy equipment operator is required to operate, maintain and adjust huge and heavy machinery used mostly in the construction industry and also in several other industries like mining, fishing, logging etc. Operators also find work at freight jobs, travel, and refuse collection routes. Most heavy equipment operators get trained on the job.

A number of schools have come up in different parts of the country to cater to the educational needs for a career as a heavy equipment operator. These courses include basics of analytical and diagnostic techniques along with instructions for in-depth understanding of the principles of electronics. To cater to the demanding nature of the job, such courses also have a strong practical and hands-on training profile.

There are several sub-categories in the job of a heavy equipment operator, such as mechanics, repairers, collision repair technicians etc. Some of these require a certification, which is renewable every five years.

Apart from the educational requirements the most essential criterion of eligibility is possession of a CDL or commercial driver’s license. If you possess any experience in driving some type of construction machinery, trucks and tractors etc. it is an added advantage for employment. Other desirable attributes for employment include the ability to judge distances, work in a team, to be open to new ideas and suggestions for improvement, be ready for additional training and responsibility. Jobs as an apprentice are available for candidates having completed formal training programs in heavy equipment operations. However, salary for apprentices at best remains nominal for entry-level positions.

Heavy equipment operators are required to operate, maintain and adjust machines like excavators, bull dozers, loaders, shovels, heavy duty tippers, forklift trucks, graders, drilling machines, cranes, motor graders, asphalt pavers, vibratory road rollers, compactors, skid steer loaders, pipe layers, compactors, pile drivers etc. On junior operator levels the work consists of operating small equipment like small rubber tire loaders and monitoring equipment. Later on with greater experience moving on to heavier machines is possible. With ongoing training and promotions, it is possible to reach senior positions like foreman, trainer, safety officer, or superintendent.

The job prospects are quite good for heavy equipment operators. Nearly all towns and cities have manufacturing facilities and construction sites where heavy equipment operators need exist, so it is easy to relocate to a fresh location without much worry about finding a new job.

Operating Systems Becoming, Equipment, Guide, Heavy, Operator