Friday 22 February 2013

How to Easily Create Your Own Google Chrome Theme


How to Easily Create Your Own Google Chrome Theme

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Google’s Chrome Web Store offers a variety of themes for Chrome, which include background images for your new tab page and custom colors. Even better — you can create your own theme in just a few minutes.
This official Google app allows you to quickly and easily create a custom Google Chrome theme, complete with a custom background image and color scheme. You can even share the themes you create.

Getting Started

We’ll be using the My Chrome Theme app from Google for this – click the link and install it from the Chrome Web Store. It will appear on your new tab page, where your other installed Chrome apps do.

Choosing an Image

The first thing you’ll need to do is choose a background image for your new tab page. You can either upload an image file or capture an image from your webcam.
If you’re uploading an image, you can choose a personal photo or any other type of wallpaper image, such as one of the images from our 100+ wallpaper collections. The below image is from our grasslands collection.

Adding Colors

On the next screen, you’ll be able to choose separate colors for the frame, toolbar, and background color. Of course, this is a Google app, so there’s an “I’m feeling lucky” button that will automatically select some appropriate-looking colors for you. The automatically selected colors will attempt to match the background image you selected earlier.

Installing Your Theme

Once you’re done, your theme will be generated and you’ll see an installation button that will add it to your browser. You’ll also get a link you can use to share it with others – just send them the link via email, instant message, Facebook, or anywhere else you can copy-paste a link. Of course, since this is Google, you can also share your custom theme on Google+ with a single click.

How to Easily Optimize & Manage Multiple Computers with Soluto


How to Easily Optimize & Manage Multiple Computers with Soluto

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Soluto is a quick, simple way to optimize and manage one or more computers – it really shines for managing multiple ones. If you’re already tech support for family or friends, Soluto can save you a lot of time.
We’ve written about Soluto in the past, when it was in a closed beta. Anyone can now sign up for a free Soluto account and manage up to five computers from the same account.

Getting Started

To get started with Soluto, you’ll have to create an account on the Soluto website. After you create the account, download the Soluto client to your current computer from the web interface.
This web page is your control panel, where you can manage all the computers you’ve installed Soluto on.
You can also add other people’s computers and manage them from here. This makes Soluto ideal for troubleshooting computers belonging to your friends and family – especially if you’re already their tech support.
You can use Soluto to manage computers even if they’re offline or disconnected from the Internet. Your actions will be queued up and Soluto will perform them the next time the computers powers on and connects to the Internet.

Startup Programs

After installing Soluto, you’ll want to restart your computer so you can start managing startup programs.
When your computer starts, Soluto watches the programs that start and analyzes their impact on your boot time.
You can launch the Soluto application from the system tray or access the Soluto website in your web browser. The desktop application currently has fewer options than the web interface.
Click the “Chop Boot” option to start managing the programs that start with your computer. Soluto informs you of the impact each program has on your startup and shows the programs you can safely remove.
Select an application and Soluto will tell you what the program does and give you a more specific recommendation. For less experienced users, it’s easier than using a traditional autostart-managing tool that provides no additional information. For more experienced users, it provides boot time benchmarks and saves you from Googling process names you may be unfamiliar with.
Soluto can “pause” programs, preventing them from starting at boot (if you need to launch your paused programs, you can do this from the Soluto system tray icon). It can also “delay” programs instead of disabling them entirely – delayed programs will start when the computer is idle, so they won’t slow down boot time. This is ideal for programs that you may want to run in the background, but don’t need to run immediately, including updater applications.
Soluto will show you the impact of your choices on your boot time.
The Soluto website has a slightly different interface with the same information.

Web Browser Management

A computer’s web browser is one of its most frequently used applications, but it can become burdened by toolbars and add-ons. With Soluto, you can quickly disable web browser add-ons. This is particularly useful for managing other people’s computers.
You can also change the default browser, homepage, and search engine.

Crashes

Soluto watches for crashes and unresponsive applications and attempts to measure a user’s frustration level. From the Soluto website, you can see what a user is being frustrated by and address issues before you get a tech support call about them.
Soluto will show you crashes that have occurred recently and also suggest fixes for them.

Applications, Security & Hardware

Soluto can quickly install and update commonly used applications. When you install or update an app, it happens in the background without disturbing the user of the computer
You can also check the computer’s security settings. With Soluto, you can verify that firewall, antivirus, and software updates are working properly. If no antivirus is present, you can quickly install an antivirus, such as Microsoft Security Essentials.
Soluto also displays the hardware in the system and informs you of any problems. For example, Soluto tells you how worn a laptop’s battery is, so you’ll know when it’s time to replace the battery.

Soluto is more than just a slick interface – it actually makes common tech support tasks easier and faster. It’s possible to do all of this remotely already, but that involves remote desktop solutions, which just take longer.

How to Fix a Stuck Pixel on an LCD Monitor


How to Fix a Stuck Pixel on an LCD Monitor

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Have you ever noticed that a pixel – a little dot on your computer’s LCD monitor – is staying a single color all of the time? You have a stuck pixel. Luckily, stuck pixels aren’t always permanent.
Stuck and dead pixels are hardware problems. They’re often caused by manufacturing flaws – pixels aren’t supposed to get stuck or die over time.

Stuck vs. Dead Pixels

Stuck pixels are different from dead pixels. A stuck pixel is a single color – red, green, or blue – all of the time. A dead pixel is black instead.
While it’s often possible to “unstick” a stuck pixel, it’s much less likely that a dead pixel will be fixed. While a dead pixel may simply be stuck at black, it’s possible that the pixel isn’t receiving power at all.
A faulty pixel displaying the color white all of the time is known as a “hot pixel.”

Locating Stuck Pixels

Do you have any dead pixels? It can be hard to tell. The easiest way to notice is by making the screen a single color. To easily do so, use the Dead Pixels Test website – click the links on the page to open a new browser window with the color and press F11 to make it take up your whole screen. Try several of the links to ensure you notice the pixel, no matter what color it’s stuck at.
Of course, a speck on your screen may in fact be a piece of dirt or dust – run your finger over it (gently!) to make sure. if it doesn’t move, that’s a stuck (or dead) pixel.

Fixing a Stuck Pixel

So you’ve got a stuck pixel – what now? There are some purported ways to fix a stuck pixel, although there’s nothing definitive. This is the computer monitor equivalent of banging on the side of your television (no, don’t hit your computer monitor!). Whether any of these methods will work depends on what exactly is wrong with the pixel, so there are no guarantees.
  • Wait. Some stuck pixels will unstick themselves after a period of time – this can take hours, days, weeks, or even years.
  • Use software. Yes, this is a hardware problem – so how will software fix it? There are software programs that rapidly change colors, cycling through a variety of colors on your screen. If a color-cycling window is placed in the area of the stuck pixel, the program is constantly asking the stuck pixel to change colors. Some people have reported this can help unstick a stuck pixel.
Try  (UDPixel) if you’re looking for a program that does this. It has a built-in stuck pixel locator that cycles colors on your screen. Its main tool will give you a little flashing dot that you can drag and drop anywhere on your screen – drag it over the dead pixel and let it run for at least several hours.
  • Press on the pixel. Some people report that pressing and rubbing on the pixel can help reset it. If you’re pressing and rubbing, try using something that won’t damage your screen, like a microfiber cloth – and don’t press too hard! Some people also report that tapping on the screen with a blunt, narrow object like an eraser nub or the cap of a sharpie (it may be a good idea to wrap it in something like a microfiber cloth, too) can help. Again, be careful – don’t apply too much pressure or use anything sharp; you could easily damage your monitor and end up wishing your only problem was a stuck pixel.

Warranty Considerations

Unfortunately, a single faulty pixel may not be enough to get service under warranty – even if you’ve just recently purchased your computer. Different manufacturers have different policies for dealing with stuck or dead pixels. Some manufacturers will replace a monitor that has even a single faulty pixel, while most manufacturers will require a minimum number of faulty pixels before offering warranty service.
You may need to have at least five stuck pixels on your screen before your manufacturer will replace it under warranty. For more details, consult the warranty information that came with your laptop or computer monitor or contact the manufacturer.

Have you ever dealt with a stuck pixel? If so, did any of these tricks actually help fix it?

Tuesday 19 February 2013

How to Disable the Lock Screen on Windows 8 Without Using Group Policy


How to Disable the Lock Screen on Windows 8 Without Using Group Policy

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Windows 8’s lock screen is at home on a tablet, but it just adds an additional key press to the login process on a desktop or laptop.  You can disable the lock screen with a quick registry hack.
We have previously given instructions for disabling the lock screen, but these required thegroup policy editor.  Once you have made this tweak, Windows will always go straight to the password prompt, skipping the new lock screen.

Quickly Disable the Lock Screen

If you do not want to edit the registry by hand, we have done the work for you.  Just click here and download the .zip file to your computer:
Open the downloaded file and double-click the DisableLockScreen.reg file to disable the lock screen on your computer.  (If you are curious what a .reg file will do, you can right-click it and select Edit to examine it before importing.)
Once you have imported the file, you are done – you do not even have to restart your computer.  If you want the lock screen back later, just double-click the EnableLockScreen.reg file.

Manually Editing the Registry

If you would rather edit the registry manually, follow the instructions below:
Open the registry editor by pressing the Windows key, typing regedit, and pressing Enter.
Navigate to the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Personalization
If you do not see the Personalization key, right-click the Windows key above it, point to New, and create a key named Personalization.
Right-click in the right pane and create a new DWORD value named NoLockScreen.
Double-click the NoLockScreen value and enter a value of 1.
Close the registry editor and you are done – you do not even have to restart your computer.
To re-enable the lock screen in the future, either delete the NoLockScreen value from your registry or set it to 0.

How To Get a Better Wireless Signal and Reduce Wireless Network Interference


How To Get a Better Wireless Signal and Reduce Wireless Network Interference

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Like all sufficiently advanced technologies, Wi-Fi can feel like magic. But Wi-Fi isn’t magic – it’s radio waves. A variety of things can interfere with these radio waves, making your wireless connection weaker and more unreliable.
The main keys to improving your wireless network’s signal are positioning your router properly — taking obstructions into account — and reducing interference from other wireless networks and household appliances.

Wireless Router Positioning

Your wireless router’s positioning can greatly affect your coverage area and the strength of your signal. Follow these quick tips to position your router for the best signal:
  • Place the router in the middle of your house. If you place the router in a room off to the side of your house, you won’t get as strong a signal on the other side of your house.
  • Position the router’s antenna vertically, so that the antenna is standing straight up. Many antennas can be adjusted and lie horizontally, but standing straight up is generally the ideal position.
  • Elevate your router away from floors. You’ll get better reception if the router is on a desk, not on the floor.
You should also pay attention to the kinds of materials the router is near. For example, placing the router on a metal desk or up against a metal wall will cause problems. Signals can travel through a wood desk easily, but metal will obstruct the signals.
Other types of obstructions can also cause problems. For example, if there’s a metal filing cabinet between your computer and the router, you may not receive a wireless signal. The same applies to other types of dense objects.

Interference From Other Wireless Networks

Interference from other wireless networks in the area can cause issues with your wireless signal. To determine whether interference is occurring, you can use an app like Wi-Fi Analyzer for Android. It will show you the wireless channels nearby networks are using and recommend the ideal network for you to use — one that isn’t being used by as many networks. This app will also allow you to walk around the area and see where you get the best signal and where the signal is weakest – you can do this with any other device, too.
If multiple wireless networks are competing for the same channel, this can cause problems. To fix this, you can change the wireless channel in your router’s web interface. You can do this even if you don’t have access to a wireless-analyzing app – change the signal to a different channel and then see if your wireless connection improves.

Interference From Household Appliances

A variety of household appliances can cause wireless interference, including cordless phones, baby monitors, and microwave ovens. Depending on the positioning of your wireless router, your networked device, and the appliance, you may even have the wireless network cut out when the microwave or cordless phone is in use.
Problems with cordless phones can be solved by replacing your phones with phones that operate on a different frequency, such as 900 MHz or 1.9 GHz. Cordless phones using the 2.4 Ghz frequency will interfere with wireless networks.
Problems with microwaves can often by solved by positioning the your devices such that the microwave isn’t between your router and the device. it’s also possible that a new microwave will help, if the new microwave has better shielding.
Other devices can also cause problems. For example, older Bluetooth devices can interfere with nearby Wi-Fi signals, although newer Bluetooth devices don’t.

Repeaters, Antennas, and Reflectors

If you need to cover a large area with a wireless signal and your router just isn’t cutting it, you can buy a wireless repeater or range extender. These devices repeat the wireless signal, extending its area. You don’t even need special devices for this – if you have some old routers around, you can use multiple routers to extend your Wi-Fi network.
Depending on your router, you may be able to attach an improved antenna that gives your signal additional range. You can also try building a Wi-Fi reflector that reflects the signal in a specific direction.


While Wi-Fi may feel like the future, wired network connections still have a lot of advantages. If you want a more reliable connection with faster speed and no interference problems, a wired network connection is still the most reliable option out there.

6 Types of Browser Errors While Loading Web Pages and What They Mean


6 Types of Browser Errors While Loading Web Pages and What They Mean

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You’re guaranteed to stumble into an occasional error page while browsing the web. This guide will help you understand exactly what each erro page means and what to do when you see them.
Note that each browser displays and words its error pages differently. A certificate error or malware warning looks different in each different browser, but the different types of error pages mean the same thing.

Certificate Error

An SSL certificate error or security certificate error indicates a problem with HTTPS encryption. You’ll only see this error when connecting to a website using HTTPS.
When using HTTPS encryption, websites present certificates to identify that they are legitimate. For example, Google.com has a security certificate issued by a trusted certificate authority. The certificate authority verifies that Google is the real owner of Google.com and is entitled to the certificate. When you connect to Google.com using HTTPS, Google presents this certificate. Your browser checks that the certificate was issued by a known legitimate certificate authority to verify you’re connecting to the real Google.com, not another server pretending to be Google.com.
When you see a certificate error, this indicates that you’re not necessarily connecting to the real, legitimate website. For example, if you try to access your bank’s website on a public Wi-Fi network and see this error, it’s possible that the network is compromised and someone is attempting to impersonate your bank’s website.
However, it’s also possible that a website failed to properly renew or configure its certificate. Either way, you shouldn’t continue when you see this error message.

Phishing and Malware Warnings

Your browser will also display phishing (or “web forgery”) and malware warnings. Whether you use Firefox, Chrome, or Internet Explorer, your browser regularly downloads a list of dangerous websites. When you attempt to connect to a website on this list, you’ll see an error message.
Websites are placed on these lists because they contain malware or because they attempt to impersonate a real website to steal your passwords, credit card numbers, or other sensitive information.
In some cases, a website may temporarily be added to this list because it was compromised. When the website is fixed, it should be removed from this list. When you see this message, you shouldn’t continue.

404 Not Found

You may see a variety of web server messages when accessing web pages. The most common one is “404 Not Found,” which means you’re trying to access a page that doesn’t exist. Either the web page was removed or you were typing in an address and mistyped it.
These error messages are generated by the remote web server and sent to your browser. If you see these, double-check the web page address you typed. If you clicked a link, the link was in error – or the page it points to has been removed.

Customized Error Pages

Website owners can customize the 404 Not Found and other error pages on their websites. For example, here at How-To Geek, we have a special 404 Page Not Found error inspired by classic Mario games. These errors mean the same thing, but they’re generally customized to be more friendly and help you find what you’re looking for.

Server Not Found

A “Server not found” error in Firefox or “Google Chrome could not find [website.com]” message indicates that your browser could not find the website you’re trying to access.
Either you mistyped a website address and you’re trying to access a website that doesn’t exist, your DNS server is down, or your firewall, proxy, or other settings are misconfigured.

Unable to Connect

The “Unable to connect” error in Firefox or “Google Chrome could not connect to [website.com]” message looks similar to the “Server not found” message above, but each means something different.
if you see this message, your browser has successfully contacted its DNS servers and identified that there should be a website at the target location. However, your browser did not receive a response from the website’s servers when it tried to connect.
If you see this message, it’s possible that the website itself is down or experiencing problems. You may want to try Down For Everyone Or Just For Me, a website which tells you whether a website is down or if you just can’t access it. It’s also possible that your firewall, proxy, or other network settings are misconfigured.
Read More: How To Troubleshoot Internet Connection Problems

There are quite a few other errors you may come across, but these are the most common ones. With some knowledge of these errors, you should know what’s going on every time you bump into an error page on the web.

Hardware Upgrade: Why Windows Can’t See All Your RAM


Hardware Upgrade: Why Windows Can’t See All Your RAM

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Installing RAM should be as simple as placing the new RAM into the slots and powering on your computer. However, a number of issues – both hardware and software related – can cause problems when installing new RAM.
Windows should be able to see and use most of the RAM you’ve installed. If Windows can’t see all of the RAM you’ve installed, there’s a problem.

You’re Using 32-bit Windows

32-bit versions of Windows have low memory limits. The maximum amount of RAM supported by a 32-bit version of Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP is 4 GB. if you have more than 4 GB of memory, you’ll need a 64-bit version of Windows to take advantage of it.
To check which version of Windows you’re using, press the Windows key, type system, and select the System option. (On Windows 8, you’ll need to click Settings before selecting System.)
If you’re using a 32-bit version of Windows, you’ll need to install a 64-bit version to take advantage of all your RAM.

Your Windows Version Has a RAM Limit

The 32-bit vs. 64-bit difference isn’t the only thing that could restrict the amount of RAM you have available. Editions of Windows also have their own limitations. For example, if you’re using Windows 7 Starter, you can only use up to 2 GB of RAM, not 4 GB. Windows 7 Home Basic Users can only use a maximum of 8 GB of RAM, even if they’re using a 64-bit version of Windows.
For the full list of restrictions on each version of Windows, consult the Memory Limits for Windows Releases page on Microsoft’s MSDN site. You’ll find the name of the Windows edition you have installed in the System window mentioned above.

Memory is Allocated to Internal Graphics Card or Other Hardware

Hardware components often use some of your internal system memory (RAM) for themselves. For example, while a discrete graphics card (GPU) comes with its own RAM, onboard graphics (also known as integrated graphics) uses part of your RAM as its video memory.
Your computer may also be allocating part of your RAM to other hardware, such as your network hardware.
To determine how much of your RAM is reserved for hardware and how much is usable by Windows, use the System window mentioned above. The total amount of usable RAM is displayed next to the total amount of memory Windows can see. In the screenshot below, 0.1 GB of RAM is reserved for hardware.

Your Motherboard Has a RAM Limit

Motherboards also have RAM limits. Just because you can fit the sticks of RAM into your motherboard doesn’t mean your motherboard can use all of the installed memory.
To determine if your motherboard is “seeing” all of your RAM, enter your computer’s BIOS. To do so, restart your computer and press the key that appears on your screen while booting (often Delete or F2). Locate the system information section and look for information on the amount of RAM in your computer.
(If pressing Delete or F2 doesn’t work and you don’t see another key displayed on your screen while booting, consult your computer or motherboard’s manual for information on accessing the BIOS.)
If your BIOS displays all your RAM but Windows can’t see it, it’s an issue with Windows. If your BIOS doesn’t display all of your RAM, you’re dealing with a lower-level issue.
Consult your motherboard’s (or computer’s) specifications to determine the maximum amount of RAM it supports.

RAM May Not Be Seated Correctly

If you know your motherboard supports all the installed RAM, but it doesn’t appear in your BIOS, you may not have seated the RAM correctly in  when you installed it.
Cut the power to your computer by pressing the switch on the back of your case and open it up. Ensure you’re grounded so you won’t damage your hardware with static electricity. Remove the sticks of RAM and reseat them carefully, ensuring they lock into place properly. If they’re not seated correctly, your computer can’t see or use them.
For more information on properly installing RAM, read: Hardware Upgrade: How To Install New RAM
In some cases, you may have to insert the sticks to RAM into specific slots. Consult your motherboard’s manual for more information.
You may also want to remove RAM – one stick at a time – to determine if a specific stick is faulty and isn’t being detected properly.

RAM May Be Faulty

If you’re having RAM-related issues, some of your RAM may be faulty Download and run a memory-test tool like memtest86 or use the built-in Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool to determine if your RAM is working properly.
If your RAM fails the test, you may want to remove one stick of RAM at a time and re-run the test to identify which is the faulty stick.

If Windows can’t see all your RAM, it’s probably because of one (or more!) of the above problems.
Have you run into any other issues while installing new RAM? Leave a comment and share any other problems you’ve encountered.