Tag Archive | "Steps"

First Steps With The Arduino: A Closer Look At The Circuit Board & The Structure Of A Program

Posted on 28 November 2011. Tags: , , , , , , , ,

class="align-right" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/featured-arduino.jpg" alt="arduino circuit board" />Last time I left you href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/started-arduino-starter-kit-installing-drivers-setting-board-port">having set up your Arduino to work with Mac or Windows, and having uploaded a simple test app that blinked the on-board LED. Today I’m going to explain the code you uploaded, the structure of Arduino software, and a little more about the electronic bits on the board itself.

This article is part of an introduction to the Arduino series. The other articles in the series so far are:

  • title="What Is Arduino & What Can You Do With It? [Technology Explained]" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/arduino-technology-explained/">What is Arduino and what can you do with it?
  • title="What’s Included In An Arduino Starter Kit? [MakeUseOf Explains]" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/whats-included-arduino-starter-kit-makeuseof-explains/">What is an Arduino starter kit and what does it contain?
  • href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/8-cool-components-arduino-projects/">More cool components to buy with your starter kit
  • href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/started-arduino-starter-kit-installing-drivers-setting-board-port/">Getting Started With Your Arduino Starter Kit – Installing Drivers & Setting Up The Board & Port

The Hardware

Let’s take a closer look at what the Arduino Uno has in terms of bits on the circuit board.

Here’s an enlarged diagram to refer to:

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/ArduinoUnoFront1.jpg" alt="arduino circuit board" width="580" height="440" />

  • Along the top, there are 14 digital Input/Output pins (numbered 0-13). These are the most versatile pins on your Arduino and can function as either input or output, and will form the core of your projects. Digital means that the signal these pins can write or read will be on or off.
  • 6 of those digital pins, which are marked by the tilde sign ~ are capable of doing what it is called href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse-width_modulation">Pulse Width Modulation. I’m not an electrical engineer so I won’t embarrass myself by explaining the science behind this, but to you and I it means we can provide a range of output levels – for instance, dimming an LED or driving a motor at varying speeds.
  • Pin 13 is special in that it has a built-in LED. This is for convenience and testing purposes only really. You can use that on-board LED, as you did in the Blink example app, by simply outputting to pin 13 – or it can be used as a standard I/O pin.
  • On the bottom right are 6 analog input pins. These will read the value of analog sensors such a light-meter or variable resistors.
  • On the bottom left next to the analog input pins are power pins. The only ones you really need to worry about are the ground pins (GND), 3.3v, and 5v power lines.
  • Finally, the only switch found on the Arduino is a reset switch. This will restart whatever program it has in its memory.
  • The Arduino has a set amount of memory, and if your program goes too large, the compiler will give you an error.

The Structure Of An Arduino Program

Every Arduino program is made up of at least two functions (if you don’t know what a function is, be sure to read my title="The Absolute Basics Of Programming For Beginners (Pt. 2)" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/absolute-basics-programming-beginners-part-2/">basic programming tutorial, part 2 – function and control statements, and title="The Basics Of Computer Programming 101 – Variables And DataTypes" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/basics-of-computer-programming-variables-datatypes/">part 1 where we discussed variables before continuing).

The first is the setup function. This is run initially – once only – and is used to tell the Arduino what is connected and where, as well as initialising any variables you might need in your program.

Second is the loop. This is the core of every Arduino program. When the Arduino is running, after the setup function has completed, the loop will run through all the code, then do the whole thing again – until either either the power is lost or the reset switch is pressed. The length of time it takes to complete one full loop depends upon the code contained. You may write some code that says “wait 6 hours”, in which case the loop isn’t going to be repeating very often.

Here’s a quick state diagram to illustrate:

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/arduino-state-diagram.png" alt="arduino circuit board" width="544" height="362" />

Examining The Blink Program

Take a look back at the Blink program code and identify the setup and loop functions.

Here’s the setup: />

void setup() { /> // initialize the digital pin as an output. /> // Pin 13 has an LED connected on most Arduino boards: /> pinMode(13, OUTPUT); /> }

The lines that begin with // are simply comments to explain the code to a human reader, and they don’t get uploaded to the Arduino. So in fact, there’s only one line of setup code in this particular Arduino app. That line is saying “Set pin 13 to output mode”. 13, remember, is the built-in LED.

Then there is the loop: />

void loop() { /> digitalWrite(13, HIGH); // set the LED on /> delay(1000); // wait for a second /> digitalWrite(13, LOW); // set the LED off /> delay(1000); // wait for a second /> }

The comments at the end of each line of code explain their function quite well. HIGH and LOW refer to the ON and OFF state of a digital output – in our case the LED. You could actually write ON or OFF in the code too, both are synonymous (as is 0 and 1 also). Delay tells the Arduino to wait for a bit, in this case 1000 milliseconds (or 1 second).

Finally, a note about the programming language used here. Notice that both setup and loop functions have the word void before them. This is a special word for nothing, because the function returns nothing when it is called – it simply runs the code contained within. For now, let’s leave it at that by saying that the function’s block of code is enclosed by curly braces { }, and that each line of code must end with a ; semi-colon.

Try altering the basic program somehow by changing the precise delay values to something larger or smaller. See how small you can get it down to before the flashing is no longer noticeable. Work out which value to change to get it to stay on for longer, or to stay off for longer. Try adding some more digitalWrite and delay statements into the loop function to create a more complex flashing pattern like the href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOS">morse code for SOS. If you have a buzzer, try connecting it to pins 13 and GND too (hint: the red wire goes to 13, black to ground).

That’s all for today. Next time we’ll add in some more LEDs and write our own application from scratch. As ever, comments and shares much appreciated. I can’t imagine you’d have any problems with the code referred to today, but if you’ve tried adjusting the code slightly and are running into errors or unexpected behaviour, feel free to post it in the comments and we’ll see if we can work through it together.



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First Steps With The Arduino: A Closer Look At The Circuit Board & The Structure Of A Program

Posted on 27 November 2011. Tags: , , , , , , , ,

class="align-right" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/featured-arduino.jpg" alt="arduino circuit board" />Last time I left you href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/started-arduino-starter-kit-installing-drivers-setting-board-port">having set up your Arduino to work with Mac or Windows, and having uploaded a simple test app that blinked the on-board LED. Today I’m going to explain the code you uploaded, the structure of Arduino software, and a little more about the electronic bits on the board itself.

This article is part of an introduction to the Arduino series. The other articles in the series so far are:

  • title="What Is Arduino & What Can You Do With It? [Technology Explained]" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/arduino-technology-explained/">What is Arduino and what can you do with it?
  • title="What’s Included In An Arduino Starter Kit? [MakeUseOf Explains]" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/whats-included-arduino-starter-kit-makeuseof-explains/">What is an Arduino starter kit and what does it contain?
  • href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/8-cool-components-arduino-projects/">More cool components to buy with your starter kit
  • href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/started-arduino-starter-kit-installing-drivers-setting-board-port/">Getting Started With Your Arduino Starter Kit – Installing Drivers & Setting Up The Board & Port

The Hardware

Let’s take a closer look at what the Arduino Uno has in terms of bits on the circuit board.

Here’s an enlarged diagram to refer to:

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/ArduinoUnoFront1.jpg" alt="arduino circuit board" width="580" height="440" />

  • Along the top, there are 14 digital Input/Output pins (numbered 0-13). These are the most versatile pins on your Arduino and can function as either input or output, and will form the core of your projects. Digital means that the signal these pins can write or read will be on or off.
  • 6 of those digital pins, which are marked by the tilde sign ~ are capable of doing what it is called href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulse-width_modulation">Pulse Width Modulation. I’m not an electrical engineer so I won’t embarrass myself by explaining the science behind this, but to you and I it means we can provide a range of output levels – for instance, dimming an LED or driving a motor at varying speeds.
  • Pin 13 is special in that it has a built-in LED. This is for convenience and testing purposes only really. You can use that on-board LED, as you did in the Blink example app, by simply outputting to pin 13 – or it can be used as a standard I/O pin.
  • On the bottom right are 6 analog input pins. These will read the value of analog sensors such a light-meter or variable resistors.
  • On the bottom left next to the analog input pins are power pins. The only ones you really need to worry about are the ground pins (GND), 3.3v, and 5v power lines.
  • Finally, the only switch found on the Arduino is a reset switch. This will restart whatever program it has in its memory.
  • The Arduino has a set amount of memory, and if your program goes too large, the compiler will give you an error.

The Structure Of An Arduino Program

Every Arduino program is made up of at least two functions (if you don’t know what a function is, be sure to read my title="The Absolute Basics Of Programming For Beginners (Pt. 2)" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/absolute-basics-programming-beginners-part-2/">basic programming tutorial, part 2 – function and control statements, and title="The Basics Of Computer Programming 101 – Variables And DataTypes" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/basics-of-computer-programming-variables-datatypes/">part 1 where we discussed variables before continuing).

The first is the setup function. This is run initially – once only – and is used to tell the Arduino what is connected and where, as well as initialising any variables you might need in your program.

Second is the loop. This is the core of every Arduino program. When the Arduino is running, after the setup function has completed, the loop will run through all the code, then do the whole thing again – until either either the power is lost or the reset switch is pressed. The length of time it takes to complete one full loop depends upon the code contained. You may write some code that says “wait 6 hours”, in which case the loop isn’t going to be repeating very often.

Here’s a quick state diagram to illustrate:

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/arduino-state-diagram.png" alt="arduino circuit board" width="544" height="362" />

Examining The Blink Program

Take a look back at the Blink program code and identify the setup and loop functions.

Here’s the setup: />

void setup() { /> // initialize the digital pin as an output. /> // Pin 13 has an LED connected on most Arduino boards: /> pinMode(13, OUTPUT); /> }

The lines that begin with // are simply comments to explain the code to a human reader, and they don’t get uploaded to the Arduino. So in fact, there’s only one line of setup code in this particular Arduino app. That line is saying “Set pin 13 to output mode”. 13, remember, is the built-in LED.

Then there is the loop: />

void loop() { /> digitalWrite(13, HIGH); // set the LED on /> delay(1000); // wait for a second /> digitalWrite(13, LOW); // set the LED off /> delay(1000); // wait for a second /> }

The comments at the end of each line of code explain their function quite well. HIGH and LOW refer to the ON and OFF state of a digital output – in our case the LED. You could actually write ON or OFF in the code too, both are synonymous (as is 0 and 1 also). Delay tells the Arduino to wait for a bit, in this case 1000 milliseconds (or 1 second).

Finally, a note about the programming language used here. Notice that both setup and loop functions have the word void before them. This is a special word for nothing, because the function returns nothing when it is called – it simply runs the code contained within. For now, let’s leave it at that by saying that the function’s block of code is enclosed by curly braces { }, and that each line of code must end with a ; semi-colon.

Try altering the basic program somehow by changing the precise delay values to something larger or smaller. See how small you can get it down to before the flashing is no longer noticeable. Work out which value to change to get it to stay on for longer, or to stay off for longer. Try adding some more digitalWrite and delay statements into the loop function to create a more complex flashing pattern like the href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SOS">morse code for SOS. If you have a buzzer, try connecting it to pins 13 and GND too (hint: the red wire goes to 13, black to ground).

That’s all for today. Next time we’ll add in some more LEDs and write our own application from scratch. As ever, comments and shares much appreciated. I can’t imagine you’d have any problems with the code referred to today, but if you’ve tried adjusting the code slightly and are running into errors or unexpected behaviour, feel free to post it in the comments and we’ll see if we can work through it together.



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How To Set Up An Apache Web Server In 3 Easy Steps

Posted on 22 October 2011. Tags: , , ,

class="align-right" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/apache_logo.jpg" alt="apache web server"/>Whatever the reason is, you may at some point want to get a web server going. Whether you want to give yourself remote access to certain pages or services, you want to get a community group going, or anything else, you’ll need to have the right software installed and configured for that to happen. So how exactly can you do that? It’s actually quite simple.

My operating system of choice for this article will be href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/linux-fedora-16-beta-distribution/">Fedora Linux, as href="http://www.makeuseof.com/service/linux">Linux in general is known for getting servers up and running quickly, and easily. In addition, Fedora is well supported by both a community and a corporation, has great security, and offers graphical configuration tools for multiple servers.

Step One: Installation

New Install of Fedora

class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fedora_apache_server_installation.jpg" alt="apache web server" width="580" height="363" /> /> If you don’t have Fedora installed on your system yet, you can do so with href="http://fedoraproject.org/en/get-fedora-all">the DVD because you can also choose to install Apache at the same time. If you take this route, while installing from the href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/dvd/">DVD you’ll be able to choose which packages you want to install with the “Customize Now” switch. Choose it and then under the Servers tab, you can select “Web Server”. Go ahead with the installation until you can boot into your new system. From there, you can install the graphical configuration tool by choosing the package system-config-httpd from your package manager, or run sudo yum install system-config-http.

Fedora Already Installed

class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fedora_apache_config_installation.jpg" alt="apache server" width="580" height="310" /> /> If you already have Fedora installed, you can install both the web server and the graphical configuration tool. You can install the httpd and system-config-httpd packages from the package manager, or run sudo yum install httpd system-config-httpd.

Step Two: Configuration

class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fedora_apache_config_main.jpg" alt="apache server" width="579" height="506" /> /> You can now start the graphical configuration tool from System Tools –> HTTP. The first tab you’ll see is the Main tab, where you can configure the server name, administrator email address, and under which addresses the server is available under. I recommend that you add an address right now, and choose “All available addresses” on port 80 for simplicity.

class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fedora_apache_config_virtualhosts.jpg" alt="apache server" width="580" height="518" /> /> The second tab contains the different virtual hosts, or the number of different websites on the same server, that are configured. The server can differentiate what domain name was entered into the browser and therefore choose the correct virtual host when displaying a page.

class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fedora_apache_config_virtualhost_settings.jpg" alt="apache http server" width="580" height="566" /> /> There are plenty of different settings that you can choose for each virtual host, including the necessary components as well as hard-to-configure ones such as href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/ssl/">SSL (HTTPS). For a majority of items, the graphical configuration tool should be able to take care of your needs.

class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fedora_apache_config_performance.jpg" alt="apache http server" width="580" height="524" /> /> The final tab has everything to do with performance and the amount of connections that are allowed. There are no recommended settings as each server has different capabilities, so if you have a larger website you’ll need to play around with these numbers and see what works (provided that you have enough traffic to test out the settings correctly).

Additional Needed Configuration

Before you can actually access your new web server, you’ll need to open your terminal and then run sudo service httpd start to actually start Apache and sudo chkconfig httpd on to make Apache start at every boot.

Step Three: Testing

Step 3 in our process is simply to test out whether you can access your page or not. On the same machine, open up Firefox and type in localhost or 127.0.0.1 to see if you get this test page (provided that you didn’t change the document root):

class="aligncenter" style="border: 0pt none;" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/fedora_apache_testpage.jpg" alt="apache web server" width="580" height="355" /> /> If not, you may have done something wrong in your configuration or not started Apache yet.

Conclusion

It’s pretty cool to have Apache up and running on your very system, considering that it’s the same technology being used by most of the websites you visit every single day (including MakeUseOf). If you want other machines to have access, you’ll need to go into Fedora’s href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/firewall/">firewall configuration utility (installed by default) and make sure that HTTP (Port 80) is open. Also, if you want to run more complicated web frameworks such as forums or href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/wordpress">WordPress, you’ll have to install MySQL and href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/php">PHP as well, but I’ll leave that for another article.

How easy do you think this process is? What do you like or not like about Apache? Let us know in the comments!

href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/set-apache-web-server-3-easy-steps/">How To Set Up An Apache Web Server In 3 Easy Steps is a post from: href="http://www.makeuseof.com">MakeUseOf



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The Next Steps On The Road To Becoming A CSS Jedi Master

Posted on 19 June 2011. Tags: , , , , ,

class="align-right" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/css-featured-part2.jpg" alt="learn css">CSS is absolutely one of the most important technologies around on the Internet today, and while most people admit to knowing a little HTML, we are generally clueless about CSS.

Last time href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-baby-steps-learning-css-kickass-css-sorcerer/">I introduced you to the absolute beginner steps required to learning how to style websites with CSS. Today I’d like to continue to examine some basic points, take a look at how powerful FireBug is, show you how to do CSS rollover effects, and point you in the right direction for where to go next.

The Box Model

One of the key concepts behind CSS is the box model that surrounds every HTML element on the page. Last time I introduced you to a fantastic utility called href="http://getfirebug.com/">Firebug and the built-in Chrome equivalent. If you’ve got installed already and had a chance to play with it, you should have noticed that hovering over any element in HTML source view in the bottom left highlights a box around the element on the page view at the top. That highlight is the box model.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/box-example.jpg" alt="learn css" width="580" height="328" />

One of the first mistakes any CSS learner will make is to confuse and use MARGIN and PADDING interchangeably. Check out the following diagram from href="http://www.w3schools.com/css/css_boxmodel.asp">w3 Schools, and notice they are very different properties.

It’s also interesting to note that the border property takes up actual space and therefore affects positioning. MARGIN determines space around the border of an element. PADDING determines the space inside the border. Only padding has background properties applied to it.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/box-model.jpg" alt="css learning" width="550" height="310" />

More FireBug Magic

Not only does Firebug allow you to view the precise hierarchy in which properties have been chosen from conflicting selectors, it also allows you to both edit and disable CSS rules, live on the page. Each CSS rule in the right hand side will have a checkbox next to it. You can uncheck this to simply turn off that rule.

More useful though, is the ability to edit these rules. Double-click to adjust the values or property name, or you can even add new rules by double clicking on the blank space. It’s an amazingly powerful tool to debug small changes to the CSS without having to save and refresh each time, but bear in mind the changes aren’t saved – so only adjust a few at a time before transferring them to the main CSS file.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/changin-live.jpg" alt="css learning" width="580" height="428" />

Another useful feature of these development tools is showing the exact CSS file and line number the rules originate from. I find this especially useful for WordPress sites when plugins will often import their own stylesheet, or when a theme consists of more than one stylesheet.

:hover Rollover Effects

One of the first things anyone wants to do with their site is add flashy rollovers. In the past, rollovers effects (elements or links that change when you hover over them) were achieved using basic javascript. With CSS you can apply :hover effects to any element, not just links – but since users expect something to be clickable when it changes under their mouse, it’s best if you only use it in the site interface for links or when javascript is also involved to invoke some kind of action.

To apply hover effects to something, use the same selector as the main element but simply add :hover to the end of it.

class="wp_syntax"> class="code"> 
a { color: black;}
a:hover {color:red;}

Hover is one of a range of pseudo-selectors available to you in CSS. Although CSS version 3 has introduced many more, you can read about the most widely supported ones at href="http://www.w3schools.com/css/css_pseudo_classes.asp">w3 Schools.

Some of my favorites are :

:first-letter

This is used to create “dropcap” effects on just the first letter in a paragraph.

:first-child

This targets only the first occurrence of something, useful if you are creating | (bars) between links using only CSS, but need to avoid duplicating one at the start or end of the list of links.

What’s That Property? Cheat Sheets & Predictive Editors

Of course, you can’t be expected to know all the properties you can play with in CSS – that’s why I keep some cheat sheets on my wall for when I’m drawing a blank. The best I’ve found are from href="http://www.pxleyes.com/blog/2010/03/most-practical-css-cheat-sheet-yet/">pxleyes.com.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/cheat-sheet.jpg" alt="css learning" width="580" height="410" />

Another helpful way of ensuring you use the correct property names is to use a CSS editor or text-editor that recognizes CSS code and predicts the property name as you type. My personal tool of choice is href="http://macrabbit.com/cssedit/">CSS Edit ($40) on the Mac – please let us know in the comments if you use any free alternatives that you recommend.

class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/code-completion.png" alt="learn css" width="243" height="153" />

Further Reading

This has only been a very brief introduction to CSS, but I hope it’s given you a good grounding. You might also want to go check out my title="5 Cool CSS3 Effects You’ll Be Seeing More Of" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-incredible-css3-effects/">CSS3 Cool Tricks article too, and here are some of my personal bookmarks for developing CSS skills:

  • href="http://www.tizag.com/cssT/">Tizag have a long tutorial that gives you a good understanding of all the basic properties, and takes a very hands-on approach to learning. They’ve been around a long time and it’s the site that I initially learnt MySQL and PHP from too. Fantastic resource.
  • href="http://css-tricks.com/">CSS-Tricks is made by one very talented individual and the site itself is a testament to the fantastic power of CSS. Some of the tutorials are quite high level, but it’s a great motivational site for me.
  • href="http://www.w3schools.com/css/default.asp">W3-Schools can be your ultimate reference for CSS properties, where you go to look something up rather than learn in a tutorial style.
  • href="http://www.smashingmagazine.com/">Smashing Magazine is another inspirational site for me, and they regularly publish in-depth tutorials on not only CSS, but the whole length and breadth of the design process.

CSS is surprisingly fun compared to HTML or other programming, so I hope you find a spark within you – the web could certainly use a few more good designers. Comments, suggestions and more links welcome, or ask specific CSS questions in the href="http://www.makeuseof.com/answers">tech support section of the site. />
/>Need Assistance? Ask questions to MakeUseOf staff and thousands of other readers on href="http://www.makeuseof.dev/answers/" target="_blank" >MakeUseOf Answers!

/>

 

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    3 Steps You Can Take To Reduce The Firefox 4 Memory Leak

    Posted on 17 June 2011. Tags: , , , , ,

    class="align-right" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/firefox.jpg" border="0" alt="" />Since the introduction of class="vt-p" title="MakeUseOf Tag: Chrome" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/chrome/">Chrome and the advancement of class="vt-p" title="MakeUseOf Tag: Internet Explorer" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/internet-explorer/">Internet Explorer to version 9, class="vt-p" title="MakeUseOf Tag: Firefox" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tags/firefox/">Firefox has been losing ground rapidly. Innovation is lacking and problems are amassing. One major issue is that Firefox 4 swallows up more RAM than any other version before it. Its memory usage has become almost abusive and working with a browser that turns your computer into a snail is no fun.

    If you are looking for ways to tame the beast, I may have some clues! In this article I will show you 3 steps to reduce and limit the chunk Firefox bites off your RAM. I will start with the obvious, but in the last step, we will dive deep into the heart of your browser.

    Prologue

    I have been using Firefox for many years and have carried over my profile from each version and computer to the next. Over the years, I have accumulated hundreds of bookmarks, dozens of extensions (most disabled), and several plugins. So by version 4, Firefox has grown to a respectable size. You could call it a monster.

    To show you that the tips I’m sharing do have an effect, I have documented how memory usage improved on my machine as I went from one step to the next. Unfortunately, I found that Firefox leaks memory, thus I recorded the value after a few minutes, even though in all cases it continued to increase. This is not 100% exact, but it still gives you a good idea of how well each step works.

    Counting: 29 open tabs, 31 extensions

    State of affairs: 700,740K

    class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/FirefoxMemoryUsage01.png" border="0" alt="firefox 4 memory usage" />

    1. Close Or Hibernate Tabs

    In case you didn’t know this already, the outrageous amount of memory Firefox uses, correlates with the even more outrageous amount of open tabs you cannot get yourself to close. Unfortunately, the easiest way to save a lot of RAM, is to close a lot of tabs.

    If you cannot close all of them for the love of it, how about managing your tabs with the help of one of the following extensions:

    • class="vt-p" title="BarTab" href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/bartab/">BarTab /> Loads a tab only when it is visited and lets you unload tabs from memory either manually or automatically.
    • class="vt-p" title="Memory Fox" href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/memory-fox/">Memory Fox /> Fixes Firefox memory leaks and releases RAM.
    • class="vt-p" title="Load Tabs Progressively" href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/load-tabs-progressively/">Load Tabs Progressively /> Limits the number of concurrent loading tabs. Similar to BarTab.
    • class="vt-p" title="TabGroups Manager" href="https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/tabgroups-manager/">TabGroups Manager /> Allows you to organize tabs in groups and hibernate groups, removing them from memory.

    Personally, I work with TabGroups Manager. The extension helps me to keep the amount of open tabs at bay, and this is how I could remove 13 tabs from memory all at once.

    For more about tabs, see this article: class="vt-p" title="The 5 Best Firefox 4 Addons For Tabbed Browsing" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-firefox-4-addons-tabs/">The 5 Best Firefox 4 Addons For Tabbed Browsing.

    class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/FirefoxMemoryUsage03.png" border="0" alt="manage open tabs" />

    Counting: 16 open tabs, 31 extensions

    Memory usage: 496,860K

    2. Remove Add-Ons

    Running add-ons, i.e. extensions, themes, or plugins, eat up quite a bit of RAM. So go through your collection and remove those that you never use. Before entirely removing them, you can disable them and see whether that significantly improves the memory leak. Go to > Firefox > Add-ons and switch between > Extensions > Appearance and > Plugins. Be sure to update them via the > Tools for all add-ons button.

    class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/FirefoxMemoryUsage02.png" border="0" alt="manage firefox addons" />

    Counting: 16 open tabs, 21 extensions

    Memory usage: 443,916K

    3. About:Config Hacks

    There are several very potent hacks that control how much memory Firefox can or will use. None of them had a huge effect in my demonstration, but your results may vary.

    Limit Firefox’ RAM usage

    Type > about:config into the URL bar, promise to be careful, and scroll to > browser.cache.disk.capacity. The default value depends on how much RAM you have installed. Double-click it to change the value. Do not limit the RAM usage too aggressively, especially not below the amount of RAM Firefox is using as you apply this hack, so be sure to check first! In my case around 400,000K was a realistic value.

    class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/FirefoxMemoryUsage04.png" border="0" alt="firefox memory leak" />

    Allow Windows to Claim Back RAM when Firefox is Minimized

    With this hack enabled, Windows will be able to claim back RAM more aggressively. In > about:config right-click anywhere and select > New > Boolean and enter > config.trim_on_minimize as the preference name. Double-click the new entry to set its value to > true. Restart Firefox to enable the changes.

    class="aligncenter" src="http://main.makeuseoflimited.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/FirefoxMemoryUsage05.png" border="0" alt="firefox hacks" />

    Limit Memory Storage for Open Tabs

    The last about:config preference we are going to look at is > browser.sessionhistory.max_total_viewers. The default value is -1, which will automatically determine the maximum amount of pages stored in memory, based on the total amount of RAM. In other word, the bigger your RAM and the more tabs you have open, the bigger the chunk that Firefox will take. You can set this value to zero to not store any pages in memory or to 1 for 32MB, 2 for 64MB, 3 for 128MB etc.

    More information about this preference can be found in the class="vt-p" title="browser.sessionhistory.max_total_viewers" href="http://kb.mozillazine.org/Browser.sessionhistory.max_total_viewers">mozillaZine. I went with 3 for 128MB.

    Status: No change in tabs or add-ons, all hacks applied.

    Memory usage: ~400,000K (maximized) and ~350,000 (minimized)

    Epilogue

    All steps brought some improvement, but the end result was still not very satisfying. Besides, the real problem with Firefox 4 is the memory leak, which in my case was mainly caused by open tabs. Firefox’ memory usage would climb on and on with no way to stop it, other than to close all tabs. When I closed all tabs except for one, Firefox used about 230,000K. With a virgin profile, memory usage went down to around 48,000K; finally a realistic value, but sadly with almost every little bit of customization removed.

    Status: virgin Firefox profile, 1 tab open

    Memory usage: ~48,000K

    The conclusion is that Firefox has a problem, but if you love your open tabs and add-ons, you will have to put up with it. If you prefer a lean and fast browser however, simply ditch everything, create a new profile, and be very restrictive with what you add.

    Finally, you may also want to try the tips from this article: class="vt-p" title="5 Things To Do When Firefox Runs Slow But Other Browsers Run Fast" href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-firefox-runs-slow-browsers-run-fast/">5 Things To Do When Firefox Runs Slow But Other Browsers Run Fast.

    So what are you going to do? Hold on to your stuff or browse lightly? />
    />Need Assistance? Ask questions to MakeUseOf staff and thousands of other readers on href="http://www.makeuseof.dev/answers/" target="_blank" >MakeUseOf Answers!

    />

     

    Read comments: href="http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/3-steps-reduce-firefox-4-memory-leak/#disqus_thread">Loved it? Hated it? Join discussion here …

     

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    9 Steps to a Hassle Free and Effective Software Development Project

    Posted on 23 August 2010. Tags: , , , , , ,

    By ExecutiveBrief Staff

    Has your company developed entirely new software or added to software already in use throughout the organization and found the process cumbersome, frustrating, and sometimes not living up to expectations or meeting organizational goals?  If so, the solution to a smooth and effective development program may be as easy as staffing a well-qualified project manager and adopting a proven development process.

    For any software development or other project initiative your company may be considering, it is critical to have in place and practice a set of effective and proven guidelines to ensure project success and delivery of the expected results:  taking into consideration the role and responsibilities of a well-qualified project manager, knowledge of important business and financial aspects, and a step-by-step process that all contribute to the solid foundation and implementation of an effective project plan.

    Developing a Practical Approach: The Role of the Project Manager

    When undertaking a software development project, the first element to consider is the establishment of a comprehensive yet practical approach to the initiative that ultimately will lead to a successful end result.

    The in-house project manager has a key role in ensuring each phase of the project is carried out as planned.  The project manager is responsible for considering the potential risks involved with the project and how to avoid and resolve them, establishing and maintaining momentum throughout the project, ensuring individual project team member tasks are assigned appropriately and carried out according to specifications, and successfully addressing and resolving any conflicts that may arise during the length of the development project.

    A well-qualified project manager is able to address what may seem to be an overwhelmingly complex process by developing an organized approach where the process is broken down into manageable individual tasks and understanding how to keep those involved in the project dedicated to the ultimate goal of meeting and even exceeding the expected end result.

    If the project manager dedicates the necessary time, effort, and resources to the preparation of an efficient, comprehensive, and practical approach, then the project team may progress with ease and confidence as they deliver on their individual tasks, having a solid foundation and strategic framework at the outset. Far too often, however, failures with such projects are the result of not only a poorly executed plan, but one that ultimately lacked the fundamental elements of a well-though-out approach rooted in adequate preparation and commitment from the project manager and project team.

    Designing a strategic plan means taking into consideration all aspects that can contribute to success or potential failure.

    Embarking on the Initiative: Key Steps to Consider

    With a comprehensive approach and a competent project manager in place to guide the new software development initiative, there is another important element your organization may find helpful as you embark on the project: establishing specific steps that can be followed to project completion that are based on proven industry experience in such a project environment.

    Following are a set of practical guidelines to approach a software development project, established by two university professors and business consultants with specialized expertise in the computing, engineering, and general business environments.

    Dr. Gordon Scott Gehrs is an adjunct instructor at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and a business consultant for the Jules F. Knapp Entrepreneurship Center at IIT. Dr. Dorota Huizinga is associate dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science and a professor in the Computer Science Department at California State University, Fullerton, as well as a frequent business seminar speaker, a business consultant, and co-author of Automated Defect Prevention: Best Practices in Software Management.

    Read on for nine key steps to consider as you embark on a software development project.

    Step #1: Conduct Feasibility Analysis
    According to Dr. Gehrs, a critical first step is to interview stakeholders in order to uncover whether a specific need exists, identify this exact need, and determine whether the proposed project can feasibly deliver the expected software development. “Many times, this is the point at which an ROI study will be carried out in order to determine project costs and benefits,” says Dr. Gehrs.

    Step #2: Analyze and Determine Requirements
    When it comes to the next step of determining requirements, Dr. Gehrs believes a proper analysis should consist of interviews with end users and others who will be associated with the new software system. In addition, a thorough review and a keen understanding of user documents, business rules, and processes are keys to determining appropriate and necessary features and functionality. This is a valuable and significant step in the development process and the point at which such deliverables as those documents outlining the scope of the project and those detailing the software product requirement will be produced.

    Dr. Huizinga notes the importance of having the minimum technology infrastructure in place before beginning a software project, which include:

    • Desktops for development with an advanced integrated development environment suite.
    • A server with a configuration management system for document tracking and version control.
    • A staging server for integration testing and a production server for deployment of the final product.
    • A requirement/task/defect tracking tool.
    • An automated build system.
    • A regression testing tool.
    • An automated reporting system.

    “Investing in the proper infrastructure is essential and will pay back quickly,” asserts Dr. Huizinga. There are three key elements the proper infrastructure provides:

    • Product and project visibility
    • Automation of repetitive and mundane tasks
    • Facilitation of collaboration

    Step #3: Consider Industry Best Practices
    When defining a software development process, consider proven industry best practices. Dr. Huizinga recommends a good, customized Agile process with emphasis on pictorial documentation both for requirements and technical documentation. It is important to follow a standard template and all activities should be traceable through a requirements/task/defect tool and shared document repository.

    Step #4: Design
    During the design phase, the software architect, programmer, and/or developer may put together a detailed design document outlining exactly how the software will meet the specified requirements. Dr. Gehrs recommends the use of mock-ups to accompany the design document as a way of illustrating user-interface elements.

    In some cases, customization is required in order to meet specific, individual project needs. For example, Dr. Huizinga notes that this might include the use of specialized COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) hardware and software components. The wide spectrum of products from databases to game engines is dictated by the market shift to customization of existing commercial applications to fit project needs rather than in-house development of such systems. According to Dr. Huizinga, COTS can offer higher quality because they are developed by vendors who specialize in systems that provide the required functionality and are well-tested by many users.

    Step #5: Measuring and Tracking Progress
    Without the proper technology infrastructure in place, it is difficult to collect and measure key project data. “Consequently, the software projects cannot be managed effectively,” says Dr. Huizinga. Project indicators can help to ensure the prompt identification of potential or existing problems, therefore allowing them to be recognized and remedied in a timely manner. When observed over an extended period, notes Dr. Huizinga, these indicators can be used to determine product quality and deployment readiness.

    Step #6: Development
    At the development phase, the design document is translated into a real piece of software. When prior careful planning has been executed, the software will match the requirements of the business driver that initiated the need for the project. Dr. Gehrs points out that development cycles may produce several versions of the software:

    • Alpha: preliminary feature/functionality only
    • Beta: used for internal testing or usability testing
    • Release Candidates: usually a very stable build that may need minor tweaks
    • Production Build or Gold Master: ready for release.

    Project managers need feedback on the user’s navigational experience, task-completion times, ease of use, and other information related to the user interface and user-centric elements.

    Step #7: Addressing Automation
    Another key step is to ensure the automation of repetitive tasks:

    • Code builds;
    • Static code analysis scans;
    • Regression tests;
    • Collection of project- and product-related measures.

    Dr. Huizinga believes that taking such measures reduces the error-prone human influence when the software is implemented. It also facilitates the use of best practices and collection of project-related data. “All repetitive and mundane tasks should be automated whenever possible in any portion of the software life cycle,” she adds.

    Step #8: Testing
    As the project continues on through each phase and on to testing, a general progression of action is as follows: software features are laid out in some sort of list, scripts are written for each task the user might perform, and those features are tested to ensure they function properly. Dr. Gehrs points out that testing also may vary quite widely depending on the individual testing procedures adopted by the organization. Testing can consist of several sub-stages as well, such as quality assurance and staging.

    Once the software is in general use, any bugs found at this point are addressed based on a criticality scale: urgent fixes are scheduled to be carried out as soon as possible. In addition, feature enhancements/changes may be slated for future upgrade versions.

    Step #9:  Gradual Implementation Practices
    “Incremental implementation of the above practices is critical to success. The approach of gradually introducing change group by group and practice by practice is essential to achieving the desired organizational culture change, as change is unsettling, and there will always be some degree of resistance,” points out Dr. Huizinga. Because of the complex nature of software projects and the technology involved, new software development warrants this systematic approach.

    Understanding the role of the project leader and importance of having well-thought-out development processes in place may be a company’s only real competitive advantage in an increasingly competitive marketplace.  It is the ultimate secret weapon to winning business and successfully delivering new easy-to-use software.

    With workable and disciplined software project guidelines and well-qualified project managers, your organization can’t lose. 

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    How To Do Registry Fix For Windows Registry In Easy Steps?

    Posted on 21 August 2010. Tags: , , ,

    Don’t get frustrated with your PC performance. This article helps you to solve the PC problems particularly the Registry Fix problems of windows registry. The most important aspect of the PC is its windows registry.

    Windows Registry stores all vital information pertaining to PC whether it may be software, hardware, favourites, system files, preferences etc. If you add or remove any software/hardware, then corresponding registry keys are changed. Over time, the registry gets cluttered and grows big in size. So a proper PC care and maintenance is needed for efficient working of windows registry otherwise it leads to registry errors.

    Does your PC suffer from windows registry errors? First of all, do you know the signs and symptoms of registry errors? Here a list of registry errors which you need to take care and do registry fix: Slow PC start up and shut down, low system performance, Frequent PC freezes and crashes, regular blue screen of death, constant rebooting, cannot add/remove program, a virus, spyware attack etc. If you experience any of the above symptoms, then surely you should perform registry fix.

    Here is the simple way to do registry fix for windows registry:

    Step 1: Run Anti Virus and Anti Spyware Software:

    The first step in registry fix is to run anti virus and anti spyware software. An Anti Virus Software scan will remove the virus from the PC and similarly Anti Spyware software will remove spyware, adware, hijackers, keyloggers and other malicious programs.

    Step 2: Download Free Registry Cleaner:

    Research for the best free Registry Cleaner and download it. Here’s a quick review on the Best Registry Cleaner softwares available online. Remember the most esteemed registry fix products provide free scan option. This helps you to conduct a free scan and thereby analyze the registry errors. With in a minute or two, you will have scan result on your desktop. If you see any registry errors, then purchase the full version otherwise you will save the money at this moment.

    Step 3: Order the Full Version of Registry Fix Software:

    Order the full version of the registry fix software and get the license of it. Enter the license code and register it. Then carry out the registry clean up and repair the windows registry errors. Within less than 2 minutes of time, you will be able to fix registry errors.

    Step 4: Restart Your PC:

    The final step in registry fix is to restart your PC. This will ensure that all your changes will be saved and applied from now onwards. If at all you scan the windows registry again, then you will observe 0 results. This shows how efficient the windows registry cleaner is!

    Step 5: Update The Registry Fix Software and Schedule The Scan:

    In order to efficiently run the PC, you need to scan the registry for errors regularly. Get the automatic updates to the Registry Fix software and schedule the scan. This will ensure that the PC is scanned regularly even if you are not in front of the PC.

    The best registry cleaner software’s available in the market are supported with myriad of features such as automatic updates, automatic backup, start up manager, PC optimization, disk defragmentation, good customer tech support and money back guarantee etc.

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    Microsoft Registry Fix in Three Quick and Easy Steps

    Posted on 12 August 2010. Tags: , , , , ,

    Microsoft registry fix can help rid of slow computer problems, crashes, freezes, delayed responses, challenges installing or uninstalling software, and other symptoms related to the Microsoft Windows registry.

    Unfortunately, cleaning and repairing the registry is not a choice. If we do not maintain the system, it begins to grow in size due to empty keys and corrupt or invalid files. There are only two ways to complete the Microsoft registry fix. The first way is manually, which takes a great level of skill and knowledge and can cause major system problems if not done correctly. The second way is to get good quality software to do the job for you.

    If you want to try the repair on your own, Microsoft has an extensive amount of resources on their support website, but be prepared for a long process. On the other hand, good software will complete the repair for you in 10 minutes or less. This article will concentrate on locating and using software to do the job versus manual processes.

    The Three Steps to Microsoft Registry Fix

    1. Create a Log of All of the Problems You Are Having

    The point of this step is to gain a full understanding of the problems that exist so you can determine what the registry software is able to repair (in later steps) and what problems still need repair (if any).

    It is important to write down anything you can think of from slow computer problems to constant reboots (on its own) to slow start up processes. The examples at the start of the article will give you ideas. List the frequency it happens and which programs are open on your PC at the time.

    Later you will refer back to this list, so make it legible for yourself.

    2. Decide on Software, Download, and Scan For Free

    This is the most time consuming part of the entire process because it includes choosing the product first. Once the product is chosen, the scan and repair processes are fast.

    If you are unsure of what to look for in a quality Microsoft registry fix product, the main qualities to find are:

    Easy to download and understand software

    Registry optimizer features in addition to just repair tools

    Custom file selection choices (which files to repair)

    Automatic Back up of files so you can return to previous file state if needed

     

    Once you locate a solid product to do the initial scan for you, run the scan for free and wait for the scan results page so you can see what errors are found on your system. If errors are found, move on to the next step. If errors are not found, you will want to decide whether to continue as getting a good registry cleaning product is always a good choice.

    3. Once Problems are Detected, Invest in the Full Version of the Software

    The purchase of the same software that completed the scan will be the next step. After scanning, there will be a prompt to pay for the repair if errors are located. This is an easy process and takes just a minute. You will be offered a choice of downloads on one computer or multiples (for a quantity price). Decide which avenue is best for you and complete the repair. The repair is extremely fast.

    Once you purchase the software, you will have a year on the license to complete scans and repairs as often as you like, which is a good idea anyway.

    After completing the Microsoft registry fix and closing others files, restart your computer and take note of how many of the symptoms are cleared up from your initial list. You can then rescan and repair and see what else is detected and repaired, or you can add a good quality spyware, adware, and malware remover to your ongoing protection plan.

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    9 Steps to Smoothly Wholesale MP3 Players from China

    Posted on 30 July 2010. Tags: , , , , ,

    If you wanna step into MP3 business world, consider China. It is one of the most well-known developing countries which provide wholesale electronics businesses. China wholesalers always select their MP3 directly from the manufacturing factories, so they are capable of offering products at low factory prices, which are up-to-50% lower than average wholesale prices.

    Although cheap prices are important factors to earn high profit, how to start and keep your business is the key to long-term success. This article will introduce 9 steps to smoothly wholesale MP3 players from China. If you have already operated a successful MP3 business, you could tell me what this article should improve; if you are a newbie, you are guaranteed to get helpful information for your business.

    Step 1: Get to know the latest trend of MP3 development in time. That helps you distinguish what MP3 are new, so you could decide which MP3 you should sell. Almost everyone likes new and innovative stuff. If you always have the newest MP3 in your hand, you will allure more and more customers.

    Step 2: Find out as many wholesale MP3 suppliers as possible and select the best. The more suppliers you have, the more freedom your choices will become, and the better prices you will get. Getting such kind of info is very easy. Simply type the keyword “wholesale MP3″ and opt. Specific lists, free of charge or not, also exist on the internet. Here will recommend top 5 reliable China wholesale MP3 providers to you; for their details, just click on and visit their sites:

    http://www.chinavasion.com/

    http://www.actfind.com/

    http://www.evertek.com/

    http://www.lightinthebox.com/

    http://www.epathchina.com/

    Note: be careful about snake oil wholesaler online. The credibility of a supplier could be checked through their history and customer rate. You could call them too or inquire info from their local relevant government business agencies. If you still have doubt, test the site by single or small orders.

    Step 3: Establish a website to resell your MP3 players. Generally, there are two options for you, designated companies and shared serving hosting companies. The first one is expensive and good for large business while the other is less expensive and good for small-to-medium business.

    Step 4: Orderly optimize and promote your website. That is the key step to make your website know by other people. There are more people professional in website optimization and promotion than before. You could easily found these talents through specific websites, like Elance.com and oDesk.com.

    Note: Some blogs, forums, RSS and SNS websites on the internet are free. If you want to save money, find out their lists and make full use of them.

    Step 5: Register your website with search engines if you want more traffic to come to your website.

    Step 6: Design a systematic, comprehensive warranty and return policies for your website. Many customers treat those very seriously.

    Step 7: For people who do business with wholesale dropshippers electronics companies, you don’t need to do this, as these companies are always glad to directly send products to your customers. Don’t worry that the dropship companies leak info to the customers, since they have strict rules to prevent this from happening.

    If you don’t do business with China dropshipping companies, build a shipping agreement with several shipping companies which support ground, air or ocean shipment. This is the basic step to ensure that you could delivery products to customers in time.

    Step 8: Sign up a PayPal merchant account. The account lets you handle your customer orders by using credit cards.

    Step 9: Never stop to optimize and promote your site as well as your main keywords. Your position in search engines would drop if you stop to optimize or promote your site, no matter what a good position you already have had in search engines.

    Posted in UtilitiesComments (0)

    Speed Up Windows Xp On Laptop – Four Simple Steps To Speed Up Your Laptop Perfectly

    Posted on 21 July 2010. Tags: , , , , , ,

    How to speed up Windows XP is a very frequent-asked question for most people. With the regular use of the laptop, as you copying and saving files, installing and removing software on the laptop consistently, the performance is losing gradually. Why is this happen? With the more programs you install, the more website you visit, the more space of resources was used, which means that your laptop have more things to load. Don’t worry, here are a few steps you can carry out to speed up your laptop easily, here is how:

     

    Step1 to speed up Windows XP on laptop:

    Remove old program or software that you rarely or no longer use is a very simple way to speed up laptop. Just go to control panel, then open the add/remove tool, you may find a list of almost all the programs you installed on your laptop. Check the list carefully, find out the unnecessary programs and then remove them all to free your laptop computer more resources.

     

    Step2 to speed up Windows XP on laptop:

    The graphics adapter is very important for a laptop which affects its performance directly, if there is anything wrong with the display drivers, your laptop may refuse to run certain programs or games, it may even halt or crash when it is running. You can visit the sites of the manufacturers and check for the latest update of the display drivers. This will not only speed up laptop but also keep it consistently function properly.

     

    Step3 to speed up Windows XP on laptop:

    Go get an anti-spyware/adware program and keep running it regularly, malicious Spyware will install themselves in your laptop without user’s knowledge, some of the adware will track down your online information and send them back to various sources, while spyware is much harmful as they will steal the personal information you stored in the laptop such as online account passwords, credit card number and passwords, they can severely slow down your laptop as well.

     

    Step4 to speed up Windows XP on laptop

    In order to speed up laptop and make it function properly, the laptop needs a bare minimum RAM, this is the basic criterion for the operation system. Clogging up the RAM further with other unwanted software and games would slow down even the fastest laptop.

     

    Step5 to speed up Windows XP on laptop

    Clean out your registry. Every time you uninstall a program, not everything of it were removed from the laptop, its entries, settings, configuration etc were still left in the Windows registry. What most people don’t know is, Windows will keep reading these wasted entries to search programs which didn’t exist at all, as the number of these wasted stuff become bigger over time, Windows is getting more and more sluggish. By running a free registry scan to clean out the registry can help you get rid of these unwanted entries, settings as well as fix the registry errors, your laptop speed can be improved dramatically after you clean the registry.

    Posted in WindowsComments (0)

    Steps to Repair MBR in Microsoft Windows XP

    Posted on 21 July 2010. Tags: , , ,

    Master Boot Record (MBR) is a record used in the Windows operating system that keeps the information of active partition, which is used to boot the operating system installed. This is usually the C: drive. Once the MBR locates the active partition, the boot sector is loaded into memory and executed. Sometimes this MBR in microsoft windows xp can be corrupted unintentionally, for example, through installation of another operating system. When MBR encounters any problem, the error message you generally see is operating system is not found.

    Its always a challenging task for you to repair an MBR. In this article we’ll show you how to repair a MBR record without any hassle.

    You can use the Windows Recovery Console in order to repair an MBR. In the Windows XP Recovery Console, you can perform the following tasks:  

    STEP 1. Copy, rename, or repair operating system files and folders.

    STEP 2. Enable or disable service or device startup the next time that you start your computer.

    STEP 3. Repair the file system boot sector or the MBR.

    STEP 4. Create and format hard drive partitions on computer.

    Let’s start Recovery Console from the Windows XP Distribution CD:

    STEP 1. Insert the Windows XP CD into your CD drive and reboot your computer. Press any key to boot from the CD if prompted.

    STEP 2. When the text-based part of Setup begins, follow the instructions. Select the repair or recover option by pressing R.

    STEP 3. If you have a dual-boot or multiboot system, choose the installation that you want to access from the Recovery Console.

    STEP 4. When you are asked, enter the Administrator password.

    STEP 5. At the command prompt, type Recovery Console commands, and then you can refer to the commands that are listed in the Available commands within Windows Recovery Console section.

    STEP 6. You can use FIXBOOT command- used to write a new boot sector onto the computer’s system partition.

    STEP 7. You can also use FIXMBR- used to repair the MBR of the computer’s boot partition.

    STEP 8. At any time, you can type Help commandname for help on a specific command. For example, you can type help attrib to display the help on the attributes command.

    STEP 9. At any time, you can exit Windows Recovery Console by typing Exit at the command line.

    STEP 10. You can eject the Windows XP CD, type exit and then press Enter to restart your PC.

    STEP 11. Assuming that a corrupt master boot record was your only problem, Windows XP should now load normally.

    Note: You can repair the master boot record in less than 20 minutes.

    Posted in WindowsComments (0)

    How to Tweak Windows XP Speed? 3 Steps on How to Increase Uplaod Speed Windows XP Now

    Posted on 21 July 2010. Tags: , , , , ,

    It is necessary equipment for computer users who travel constantly and have a series of presentations. For these people, if your computer is slow down, they will ask: “How to configure Windows XP?”

    The slow work laptop can be very irritating and may cause traffic halfway to the age of online transactions and you can read important e-mails.

    So if you are one of those who constantly use your laptop, you must take certain steps to ensure smooth and fast performance. These measures are relatively easy to follow and you do not want a computer genius. You can save time and money by doing the following on a regular basis. These stages are:

    1. Regular defragments your hard disk: If you constantly think that Windows XP Disk Defragmenter is the answer for you. If a new laptop is with no hard disk and data files are stored neatly in boxes, therefore they are quickly available when the notebook is too fast. Over time, empty blocks are resulted from files. New files are kept in the blocks, extended form. This will result in slower access to files. When Disk Defragmenter cannot guarantee that all files are sorted, allowing the system to increase performance.

    2. Have you used a laptop for a long time? It may be that the redundant information found its way into the Windows Registry. Cleaning the registry with Registry Cleaner is the best choice for you. It is fast, easy and reliable cleaning of the registry is not dangerous. This can help you to get the answer to the question of “Windows XP.”

    3. Expand disk space: Make sure your hard drive has a lot of empty space. If you find that you have less than 500 MB of free disk space, keep improving the hard disk or delete unnecessary information. This will help you to get rid of the clause, as in Windows XP”

    Are you tired of slow PC performance? To configure Windows XP in the cheapest and fastest way, you can use your computer error free registry and determine the best Registry Cleaner on the market. After scanning and fixing the computer, you will be surprised how quickly your computer can be.

    Posted in WindowsComments (0)

    Speed up Windows XP – How to Make your slow PC Run like New in three simple steps

    Posted on 20 July 2010. Tags: , , , , , ,

    You can Speed up Windows XP in just a few minutes!

    With the popularity of computer, how to maintain and speed up the slow computer has become an universal problem to all users. Have you ever worried about how to make your slow computer run like new again? Do you want to speed up your Windows XP performance? Here are three easy steps you can follow to improve your Windows XP slow speed.

    why your computer is running increasingly slow:

    Many people find it difficult to get Windows XP run faster but still wonder about the reasons for this. Actually, there are three reasons result in your PC running slow: insufficient RAM on PC, virus hiding in system and damaged registry entries. 

    How to speed up your PC in just a few minutes: 

    1. Upgrade you computer RAM to speed up Windows XP. RAM is probably the simplest internal computer component that you can replace and install. Adding more RAM on your machine is also the most directly way to optimize Windows XP performance. 

    2. Delete virus and spyware which might have lurked on your PC. Virus infection is the main factor that slows system right down. In order to speed up Windows XP, you should get smart virus software from internet to get rid of the potentially harmful files hiding in your system 

    3. Repair the corrupt Registry entries timely. Registry is the heart and soul of any Windows operating system. The corrupted or invalid registry entries may lead to constant crashing and slowing of your PC. Therefore, it is suggested that you choose a powerful registry cleaning tool to detect and fix your registry errors.

    These are the most common reasons and solutions of your PC slow running problem. Just follow the listed solutions you can get your slow PC run like new in minutes. 

    If you want to get more information on how to optimize Windows xp performance, click here to speed up your computer with an effective registry cleaning tool.

    Posted in WindowsComments (0)

    Necessary Steps to Choosing the Best Registry Fix

    Posted on 19 July 2010. Tags: , , , ,

    Is there a best registry fix? This is the most common question that arises when people are trying to determine which product to use to fix their slow and crashing computer problems (or a number of other registry symptoms).

    If you are asking the same question, this article is for you.

    It is frustrating and stressful to deal with computer problems. The good news is that you don’t have to suffer for much longer. Deciding on a product to fix your registry doesn’t need to be stressful.

    You may be asking yourself a series of questions in advance of purchasing a registry cleaner: Am I choosing a good product? Is this product actually going to fix my computer? What features should I get for my money? Will I understand how to fix it once the software finds errors? How can I trust results from the software? Is the software making up errors to get my money?

    The first goal is to make a determination is the registry is even your problem to start with. The following symptoms are common to registry problems: Slow and crashing computer, anti-virus and spyware software didn’t fix the problems, the computer starts slow, rebooting is common, errors spell out a registry problem, you can’t easily add or remove programs on your PC, you have a Blue Screen of Death (blue screen with writing), the response times on your computer are terrible, internet surfing is slow, it takes a while (if at all) to launch programs.

    If you have multiple symptoms from the above list, it is a good idea to install and consistently run registry software.

    Step One: Run a Free Scan

    The best registry fix products will offer a free scan. Be sure to use the scan to determine that you indeed have errors before paying for the repair feature in the same software. A list of errors, by category, should be listed for you once the scan is done.

    Step Two: If Errors are Detected, Purchase the Repair Utility

    After the free scan is complete, if errors exist you will want to elect the option to pay for the repair feature. The scan takes longer than the repair, but obviously the repair is what you are after. The repair takes seconds.

    Step Three: Restart and Test Your PC

    After the repair is complete, it is always a good idea to shut down your computer and restart to ensure the changes are saved and applied. You can then run the same software to ensure that all errors were removed. If not, you can always run the scan and repair again as the best registry fix products have an unlimited use one year license.

    What Qualities Should The Best Registry Fix Products Contain?

    Most products are similar in qualities. There are some slight differences that you should be aware of. The following is a list that can guide your purchase decision.

    System Backs Up Automatically

    This quality will provide you peace of mind knowing that any changes to your PC are completely reversible.

    Solid Service and Tech Support

    Most of the best software programs have great help files and you may never require a support staff member due to the simplicity of the product. Still, it is always good to send a test email to the company to see how quickly they respond back to you. See how timely the response is and how professional the response is. You will then know the nature of the company and how well they will treat you when you have questions.

    Both Repair and Optimization Features

    Though repair and cleaning are usually the only issues on purchaser’s minds, the best software programs offer optimization features to supplement repair characteristics. Good software programs will have tools that will complete system defrag (to free hard drive space), remove Internet Explorer plug-ins that slow your internet, and that remove viruses and spyware from your computer. Look for additional tools beyond a normal registry repair.

    File Edit Choices

    For more technical users, it is convenient to have the choice of which files to edit. Novice users don’t need to worry about this feature because most extensive XP registry cleaner software programs are designed to fix only vital files.

    Simplicity of Download and Usability of Software

    The best registry fix utilities make the process of repair and optimization easy. Seek a product which offers an easy download and interface to comprehend. The best registry programs offer descriptions of each characteristic once you download the software prior to the free scan process. An online help guide should be present in case you need help.

    Posted in UtilitiesComments (0)

    Steps To Modify Popular Themes On Windows Xp

    Posted on 19 July 2010. Tags: , , , ,

    Personal computer users are familiar with the various exciting themes available with all versions of Microsoft Windows XP.In fact, almost each and every version of this hugely popular operating system is coupled with one or more of these themes whether it is an office version, the professional version or even  the home pc edition.

    Microsoft Windows XP is a complete package meant to provide utmost efficiency to your daily work regimen. The advanced features of this operating system are designed in such a way so as to meet the multifarious needs of the end user.

    Whatever be your specific work need, Microsoft Windows XP provides seamless pc experience to make your work easier. As a first time user of the XP outfit, the various themes on offer may prove to be very useful. The usual Luna theme is quite an amazing package, built to perfection, keeping in mind the various requirements of the users.

    It not only provides advance navigation tabs and backup icons, to double up the effect the glossy appearance of the Luna theme is quite an eye-candy.

    However, after repeated usage for a couple of months, the Luna theme is likely to get a little boring, no matter how exciting your Desktop background may be. Hence, if you want to make your Microsoft Windows XP theme more interesting, you can tailor it to suit your specific requirements.

    At the onset, install MS Office on your pc and set out by running some of the commonly used applications. Be sure to run a trial on the hugely popular Microsoft Windows XP platform. You can also get a test of some software which will allow you to make use of pre-made skins for your pc.

    You can spice up your Microsoft Windows XP desktop by picking out a theme from a range of freely downloadable versions available on the World Wide Web. Start out by picking out a theme, the one which is much easier to load on your Microsoft Windows XP platform.

    Even if you wish to shift from the custom made Luna theme to other popular versions including “Royal Noir” or “Aero”, you will require a patched up copy of the install theme software file called “uxtheme.dll” to allow you to alter the existing theme.

    While modifying the style tool to add zing to your pc, you also need to edit the “.msstyles” file; the next step is to modify the style of the new theme. After you install MS Office, the first thing that you can do is to modify the existing theme of the application suite according to your specific need.

    Get going by clicking the “Start” button color from a jet blue to bright pink. Open the “.msstyles” file located in the Microsoft Windows XP Resources Themes directory.

    The next step is to expand the “Bitmap” folder. The names are self explanatory, so finding the appropriate resource may not be a trouble at all if your wish is to shift to a more colorful theme on your Microsoft Windows XP pc.

    Next time when you Install MS office you can expect to see a lot of new changes due to the attractive themes on offer. Enjoy these new themes on your windows pc and get going with your daily work.

    Posted in WindowsComments (0)

    Four Simple Steps To Trouble-Free Windows Xp Upgrade

    Posted on 16 July 2010. Tags: , , , , ,

    As a starter you must know whether your PC can run on either Windows XP or Windows Vista. Microsoft offers an instrument called the “Windows XP Upgrade Adviser” which can be used to upgrade your PC configuration. The adviser can indicate whether your personal computer can work under Windows XP platform or not. You just need to download and install the adviser into your PC mainframe and get started.

    You can easily find the ready-to-use instructions which will guide you through the installation process. It will also help you to install new hardware like your printer, scanner and so on. In few exceptional cases, the adviser may also be asked to uninstall some programs like an antivirus upgrade and it may even ask you to reinstall it after the whole up gradation process nears completion.

    According to the second step of the process, backup should be done before you start to initiate the PC upgrade. To give proper face-lift to your digital life you should also have an external hard disk drive. Peripheral hard disks are growing cheaper by the day. Today, drives with even 1000 Gigabyte (1Terabyte) of disk space are widely available at $100. Thus, in order to get your PC ready for Windows XP only an additional hard disk connection to a USB port needs to be done.

    A support tool in Windows Vista helps you to save all your files and profile settings although most hard drives contain good backup tools. If you are a starter, it is better to keep back ups. If you want to do a clean install, there is necessity of another tool called Easy Transfer. This is available in two ways through Windows Vista and Windows XP.

    This installation and upgrade process is very easy although being a little time-consuming. When you launch the application it will verify whether you PC support an XP or a Windows Vista Version and it is on you to decide which things need backing up.

    The third step deals with migrating applications. While upgrading most of the applications, the original installation disk of each application or the download file, which is received from the Internet, is required to “clean install”. At times you can also download the fresh software of the latest version, however, in maximum cases you will need an authentic software license number to prove your legitimacy.

    The last step gives you an ample time to complete the up-gradation process. While the complete process of up gradation may take a lot of time, you must ensure to allot ample time for the file transfer to complete. The whole process of Windows XP upgrade is convenient for the first time users. If you are fresh to this shore, be careful to read the instructions provided to go on with this up gradation process.

    The “Windows XP Upgrade Advisor” helps you refurbish your desktop pc to XP or Windows Vista configuration and give it a solid look coupled with amazing features. Through these above simple steps, you can easily upgrade your pc Windows XP platform involving least possible time.

    Posted in WindowsComments (0)

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