COMPUTER HARDWARE AND NETWORKING

Surface Computer(Microsoft)

2011-12-20T17:15:00.000+05:30

Surface Computer

The set was fashioned by Microsoft with Surface (codenamed Milan), the surfacecomputer from Microsoft which was based entirely on a Multi-Touch interface and using a coffee-tablelike design, and was unveiled on 30 May 2007. Users can interact with themachine by touching or dragging their fingertips and objects such aspaintbrushes across the screen, or by setting real-world items labeled withspecial bar-code labels on top of it.

The Surface is ahorizontal display on a table-like form. Somewhat similar to the iPhone, the Surface has a screen thatcan integrate multiple touches and thus uses them to direct multimedia content.Unlike the iPhone, which uses fingers' electrical properties to detect touch,the Surface utilizes a system of infrared cameras to detect input. Uploadingdigital files only requires each object (e.g. a Bluetooth-enabled digitalcamera) to be placed on the Surface. People can physically move around thepicture across the screen with their hands, or even shrink or enlarge them. Thefirst units of the Surface will be information kiosks in the Harrah's family ofcasinos.

Surface Computing Technique

TheMicrosoft Surface platform brings people together to connect, learn, anddecide. It enables experiences that change the way people collaborate andconnect with a 360-degree interface. And, with PixelSense, Microsoft Surfacesees and responds to touch and real world objects supporting more than 50simultaneous inputs.

This experience comes to life in the new 40inch Samsung SUR40 for Microsoft Surface that can be used as a table, on thewall, or embedded in other fixtures or furniture.

Theonly limit is your imagination. Whether you're inhospitality, retail, healthcare, professional services, or the public sector,you can change the way people relate with information and with each other.

Makecontent more engaging. Give your customers immersive andcollaborative ways to involve with photos, videos, documents, maps, customapplications, and more.

Planand simulate. Bring to life real-time"if/then" modeling and visualization, simulations andcalculations—perfect for financial services, healthcare, and other consultativeenvironments.

Makelearning more fun. Breathe new life into the educationprocess with rich visualizations that encourage teamwork and enhance learning.

Transformthe shopping experience. Make shopping more immersive byconnecting customers with more options, recommendations, product and servicecomparisons, and personalized service.

Connectwith customers through games and pastimes. Have some fun byputting Surface in restaurants, bars, hotel lobbies, and other venues,associating memorable experiences with your brand.

Communicateand connect. Give people an efficient and intriguingnew way to get the information they're looking for—like maps and touristdestinations in a hotel lobby. Or use it to help them exchange personalinformation so they can connect with each other and to your business.

Microsoft Surface Technology Videos

Applications

Surface computing isslowly starting to catch on and is starting to be used in real worldapplications. Here is just a sample of what surface computing technologies havebeen used.

The Microsoft Surface isstarting to pick up popularity and has been used in various places and venues.AT&T became the first retailer to use Surface to help their customerspurchase phones. Customers could place the phones on the Surface and receivefull phone specs, as well as pricing. It has also been used in a wide varietyof locations which include hotel lobbies, such as Sheraton Hotels, as well asvenues which included Super Bowl XLIII to help police organize and monitor theevent in great detail. It is also starting to gain use in the broadcastingindustry and has been used by MSNBC during the 2008 US Presidential Elections.However, USD $15,500 (device only) is still considered expensive for mostbusinesses.

There are other newsurface computing applications that are still being developed, one of which isfrom the MIT Media Lab where students are developing wearable computing systemsthat can be used on almost any surface. The name of this device is SixthSense.

Microsoft Surface Technology

Surface Computer Pictures

Samsung shows transparent flexible tablet in concept video

2011-12-06T13:50:00.001+05:30

Samsunghas released a concept video showing what the future of mobile phones andtablets could look like. The clip opens with a ringing phone which is thenrolled out and turned into a video conferencing tablet as others look on inamazement.

Theremainder of the half minute clip shows potential uses for such a device inmultiple scenarios using augmented reality. One scene shows the user snapping aphoto of text on a restaurant menu which then shows a 3D image of the dish.Another scene demos a translator app where both participants can speak into thetablet on opposite sides of the transparent screen. The tablet correctlytranslates and displays the conversation in each user's native language.

Thetechnology in the clip is still several years away but it’s interesting to seehow tech companies envision the future. Some aspects, like augmented reality,have been around for several years but have yet to make a huge impact on mobiledevices.

Samsunghas shown us working prototypes of flexible AMOLED displays earlier this yearand Nokia demoed a flexible phone prototype in October.

Although,as impressive as these real-life displays are, creating something like we seein the video from Samsung still presents some challenges as the physicalhardware like the processor and memory has to reside somewhere. Additionally one must wonder how the displaywould be powered if there are no visible batteries inside the transparentpanel.

Google search on the iPad vs. your desktop web browser

2011-12-06T13:03:00.001+05:30

We know for a fact tablets are selling like hotcakes, or atthe very least iPads and Kindle Fires are. The form factor is still relativelynew and software is barely itching the surface of its potential, or so we arelead to trust.

Google newly updated its Search app for the iPad with a newinterface and a number of tweaks that make it quicker and easier to use. Thenew app is more effective at taking advantage of the iPad's larger screenreal-estate, and it honestly looks better than any search app for Androidtablets that Google has yet to produce.

The video below was recorded by our friends at MobileBurn,giving you a quick overview of the app's new features including voice fitness,side by side tab watching, and a very tablet oriented version of image search.

With that said and done, am I alone believing browsing theweb and multi-tasking on a tablet is overly clumsy associated to what you can achieveusing a desktop web browser (in half the time)?

Overview of System Recovery Options for Windows 7

2011-12-03T10:30:00.000+05:30

An Overview of System Recovery Optionsfor Windows 7

Windows 7 has a few toolsavailable which can help you when the system no longer behaves as it issupposed to. These tools can be used in the following scenarios: boot errors,upgrade failures or reboot loops.

In this article I willshare with you the list of available tools, explain what they do and thescenarios when they are helpful.

System Recovery Options - What theyAre & When to Use them

The 'System RecoveryOptions' are a set of 5 tools, listed below, which can be used to repair orrecover a damaged operating system:

Startup Repair - can be used to scan your computer and fixmissing or damaged system files that prevent Windows from starting correctly.You can use this tool if you have modified Windows system files or if youinstalled applications which have modified Windows system files in such a waythat the operating system doesn't start anymore.

System Restore - can be used to restore Windows systemfiles to the state of an earlier point in time, while leaving all your userfiles untouched. You can use System Restore when you want to revert to anearlier configuration which you know it worked properly. For example, if youinstalled multiple applications and you are suddenly experiencing randomrestarts, boot failures and Startup Repair failed to fix anything, the quickestway to solve the problem is to use System Restore.

NOTE:In order to use System Restore you must have at least one system restore pointpreviously created. More info about this feature will be published in upcomingarticles.

System Image Recovery - can be used to restore a system image.When everything else fails, this can be the solution to your problems. WhenStartup Repair and System Restore are not helping, try to use the System ImageRecovery tool. The only drawback is that you will revert only to the files,folders and applications that were present at the time you created the systemimage.

NOTE:In order to use this tool you must have a previously created system image file.More info about this feature will be published in upcoming articles.

Windows Memory Diagnostic - scans your computer's memory for errors.If your computer randomly freezes after you upgraded or changed the RAMmodules, it is a good idea to use the Windows Memory Diagnostic to check themfor errors.

Command Prompt - can be used by advanced users to performrecovery-related operations. These operations should only be used by advancedusers. If you are not sure on what you are doing, you can end-up with yourWindows 7 in a state which is a lot worse than before.

There are two ways ofaccessing the 'System Recovery Options': from the Windows 7 installation DVD ordirectly from your hard-disk. I will start with the first scenario. As you willsee, finding the 'System Recovery Options' is easy in both cases.

Access System Recovery Options From The InstallationDVD

Enter into bios and setboot device priory first as DVD Rom. Save it

The first step is toinsert the Windows 7 installation DVD into your drive and boot from it. Selectthe language you prefer and click on Next.

E In the next window click on the 'Repair your computer'link.

Then select the operatingsystem that you want to repair. This step is important when you have multipleoperating systems installed and only one is damaged. Click on Next to continue.

In the new window you will see all the 'System RecoveryOptions'.

AccessSystem Recovery Options From Your Hard Disk

If you don't have aWindows 7 installation DVD, don't worry. You can still access the 'SystemRecovery Options' from a hidden 100MB recovery partition that Windows 7automatically creates when you first installed the operating system.

At the next computerrestart, right after the BIOS info screen, press and hold the F8 key from yourkeyboard. Shortly you will see a list of 'Advanced Boot Options.

Select the first optionnamed 'Repair Your Computer' and press the Enter key.

After a few seconds a'System Security Options' window will show up. Select the keyboard input methodthat you prefer and click on Next.

In the next window, selecta user name to log on to Windows 7. Also, if you have a password for that username type it in the Password text field. When done, click on OK.

In the new window you will see all the availableSystem Recovery Options that you can use to repair Windows 7.

To open the System Recovery Options menu using the Windows 7installation disc or a USB flash drive, or a system repair disc

If your computer's system is severely damaged and youcan't access the System Recovery Options menu on your computer, you can accessit using the Windows 7 installationdisc or a USB flash drive, or using a system repair disc if you created oneearlier.

To use this method,you need to restart (boot) your computer using the disc or USB flash drive.

Insert the Windows 7 installation disc or USB flash drive,or a system repair disc, and then shut down your computer.
Restart your computer using the computer's powerbutton.
When prompted, press any key, and then follow theinstructions that appear.
On the Install Windows page, or on the System Recovery Options page, choose your language and otherpreferences, and then click Next.
If neither the Install Windows page nor the System Recovery Options page appears, and you're not asked topress any key, you might need to change some system settings. To learn how todo this, see Start your computerfrom a Windows 7 installation disc or USB flash drive.
If you are using the Windows installationdisc or USB flash drive, click Repair your computer.
Select the Windows installation you want to repair, andthen click Next.
On the System Recovery Options menu, click a tool to open it.
There's No Performance Drain From System Restore.

Windows 7 System Restore inside the windows 7

Windows 7 System Restore utility has now merged with the Windows Backup utility. You can now use System Restore with Advance recovery to restore the system using previously created System Images or even restore your computer to its original settings.

Start at the Control Panel, then select System and Security

Security

Select Recovery

You can beging the system restore operation with the following

Open System Restore

Restore System Files and Settings

One has to determine which restore point is the preferred one to use.

If those are not enough, one can choose others.

Show More Restore Points

You have additional restore points available.

Confirm Your Restore Point

There's No Performance Drain From System Restore

One of the most common performance-tweaking myths that you'll find on all the amateur tweaking sites says that you should disable System Restore for maximum performance, but that's just ridiculous. We've already shown you that System Restore only kicks in once a day, and only runs when the system is idle—so the only drain on your resources is a little bit of extra drive space being used, not to mention that snapshots take virtually no time to create.

If you're really worried about the use of your drive space, you can easily tweak System Restore to use less space in Windows 7—just head into System Properties –> System Protection –> Configure and drag the slider to choose exactly how much space you want to use. For Windows Vista, it's a lot more difficult—you'll need to use a command-line hack to force Windows Vista to use less space.

The much better solution, however, is to simply clear out all restore points but the most frequent one whenever you're in need of some extra drive space using the Disk Cleanup utility. Just run it as administrator by right-clicking on the utility in the start menu and choosing the Run as Administrator option, or you can open it normally and click the "Clean up system files" button—once you've done so, you can choose the More Options tab where you'll find a Clean up button to remove all the old restore points except for the most recent one. This keeps you safe just in case you need to restore, but doesn't keep the older, more unnecessary restore points around.

At this point hopefully you can see the benefit and learn to love how System Restore can fix your PC easily, but if you really insist, you can disable System Restore easily from the System Protection tab.

Common Windows Error Codes and Fix The Problem

2011-12-02T11:44:00.001+05:30

While working with an operating system, it is not uncommon to encounter errors. Someerrors that occur frequently on a Windows system are compiled in a common Windows errorcodes list. It may not be difficult to fix the commonWindows errors but for certain errors, some level of expertiseor an in-depth knowledge of the Windows OS may be required. A consolidated listof common windowsproblems and solutions is useful for a user when they encounter anerror. A common Windows errorcodes list provides a quick and an easy reference andalso a possible solution to fix a common Windows error.

CommonWindows Error Codes and How to Fix them!

Belowis a list of the most common error codes that you can face while using Windowsand its basic components. Some solutions have been provided for you to try tosolve them. You should also note that some require the assistance of a computertechnician and you should NOT try to fix them yourself as they could seriouslydamage your computer system.

· Error#0

Error Message: Connection Successful!

Solution: Does not require any repairs.

· Error#2

Error Message: System cannot find specified file

Solution: You should reinstall NCP & DUN

· Error#5

Error Message: Access Denied

Solution:

1. Ensure that you have entered the right username andpassword in the field labeled "domain" for NT/2k.

2. Check that the option "accept anyauthentication including clear text" is activated.

· Error#5

Error Message: Invalid Procedure Call

Solution: Dialup and Network components must beinstalled again

· Error#6

Error Message: Stack Overflow

Solution:

1. Try cold booting your computer.

2. If this does not work, the problem might come fromyour RAM or the Swap file.

· Error#20

Error Message: The system cannot find the specifieddevice

Solution:

1. Ensure that the right modem has been selected.

2. If it does not respond, try to reinstall it.

3. You can also try to reinstall NCP/DUN/RAS.

· Error#71

Error Message: No more connections is allowed

Solution:

1. Someone else might have connected under youraccount.

2. If you have been ghosted on the server, yourInternet Service Provider can bump the ghost program off.

· Error#380

Error Message: Invalid Proper Value

Solution:

1. Autodial should be pointed to the correct dialer.

2. Else, set up the dialer again.

· Error#600

Error Message: An operation is pending

Solution:

1. You should first try to reboot your computer.

2. Ensure that no other program is using your modem.

3. Else press Ctrl-Alt-Delete and if RNAAPP loads,contact a technician to fix this problem.

4. Make sure that your computer is Spyware free.

· Error#601

Error Message: The port handle is invalid

Solution:

1. Select the modem's COM port and under the Diagnosissection, open More InfoYou should reboot your computer if you are able to getAti# responses. Hence, remove the erroneous init string or enter ATZ as theinit.

2. You can also reinstall your modem

3. Else press Ctrl-Alt-Delete and if RNAAPP loads,contact a technician to fix this problem.

4. Your Dialup Networking should be installed againtogether with its components

5. Your modem might not be working properly. You shouldthen consult your computer manufacturer.

· Error#602

Error Message: The port is already open

Solution:

1. Try to reboot your computer

2. Ensure that no other program is using the modem

3. Else press Ctrl-Alt-Delete and if RNAAPP loads,contact a technician to fix this problem

4. Try uninstalling the AOL Adapters in the NetworkControl panel and reboot your computer. Install your Dialup Adapter again.

5. Remove the erroneous init string or enter ATZ as theinit.

6. If you have Quicken 2000, deactivate the QuickenDownload Manager.

7. You should maybe install your modem again.

8. Make sure that your computer is Spyware free.

· Error#603

Error Message: Caller's buffer is too small

Solution:

1. Ensure that your port speed is not configured to alow speed

2. In your "Port Settings", ensure that FIFOis not set to low.

3. Your Dialup Networking should perhaps be installedagain together with its components

4. If you are still having problems, contact yourcomputer manufacturer.

· Error#604

Error Message: Wrong information specified.

Solution:

1. Ensure that the are no outages within your area

2. Try to enter the username and password again

3. Set up the dialer again

4. Your Dialup Networking should be installed againtogether with its components

5. You can also try to reinstall your modem

· Error#605

Error Message: Cannot set port information.

Solution:

1. Ensure that the are no outages within your area

2. Try to enter the username and password again

3. Set up the dialer again

4. Your Dialup Networking should be installed againtogether with its components

5. You can also try to reinstall your modem

· Error#606

Error Message: The port is not connected.

Solution:

1. Select the modem's COM port and under the Diagnosissection, open "More Info". You should reboot your computer if you areable to get Ati# responses. Hence, remove the erroneous init string or enterATZ as the init.

2. You can also reinstall your modem

3. Else press Ctrl-Alt-Delete and if RNAAPP loads,contact a technician to fix this problem.

4. Your modem might not be working properly. You shouldthen consult your computer manufacturer if the problem persists.

· Error#607

Error Message: The event is invalid.

Solution:

1. If this problem arises while dialing up to theinternet, verify that the settings of the event log have been correctly set.

2. Try rebooting your system and ensure that thedialer/network settings have been correctly configured

3. Else, install RAS/DUN again.

· Error#608

Error Message: The device does not exist.

Solution:

1. Check that the right modem is set in the dialer

2. Ensure that you are using the right modem drivers bychecking the modem diagnostics. If it's not the case, set up the correct drivers.

3. Remove and install the dialer again

4. Your modem might not be working properly; try toinstall it again.

5. You should then consult your computer manufacturerif the problem persists.

· Error#609

Error Message: The device type does not exist.

Solution:

1. Check that the right modem is selected in the dialer

2. Ensure that you are using the right modem drivers bychecking the modem diagnostics. If it's not the case, set up the correctdrivers.

3. Your modem might not be working properly; try toinstall it again.

4. You should then consult your computer manufacturerif the problem persists.

· Error#610

Error Message: The buffer is invalid.

Solution:

1. Ensure that your port speed is set to low in themodem properties.

2. In your "Port Settings", check that FIFOis not set to low.

3. Remove and install the dialer again.

4. Else, install RAS/DUN again.

5. You should then consult your computer manufacturerif the problem persists.

· Error#611

Error Message: The route is not available.

Solution:

1. Try to reboot your computer

2. Ensure that you set the right configurations for thedialer and network settings.

3. Else, install the network components again.

4. If you are using a LAN connection, consult yoursystem administrator.

· Error#612

Error Message: The route is not allocated.

Solution:

1. Reboot your computer

2. Ensure that you set the right configurations for thedialer and network settings.

· Error#613

Error Message: Invalid compression specified.

Solution:

1. Try to reboot your computer

2. Else, add &K3 to the extra settings.

3. If this still does not solve the problem, add&K3

4. You can also try to reinstall the modem.

· Error#614

Error Message: Out of buffers.

Solution:

1. Ensure that our port speed is not too low.

2. Try to install your modem again.

· Error#615

Error Message: The port was not found.

Solution: Try to install your modem drivers.

· Error#616

Error Message: An asynchronous request is pending.

Solution:

1. Reboot your computer.

2. Try to install your modem drivers again.

· Error#617

Error Message: The port or device is alreadydisconnecting

Solution:

1. Wait until your modem disconnects properly.

2. If this operation is taking too long, reboot yourcomputer.

· Error#618

Error Message: The port is not open.

Solution:

1. Reboot your computer

2. Ensure that no other program is making use of themodem.

· Error#619

Error Message: The port is disconnected.

Solution:

1. Reboot your computer

2. Ensure that no other program is making use of themodem.

· Error#621

Error Message: Cannot open the phone book file.

Solution: Install Blue Frog connection software again.

· Error#622

Error Message: Cannot load the phone book file.

Solution: Install Blue Frog connection software again

· Error#623

Error Message: Cannot find the book entry.

Solution: Install Blue Frog connection software again

· Error#626

Error Message: Cannot load a string

Solution:

1. Try to reboot your system.

2. Install Blue Frog connection software again

· Error#627

Error Message: Cannot find key

Solution: Install Blue Frog connection software again

· Error#628

Error Message: The port was disconnected

Solution:

1. Install Blue Frog connection software again

2. Try to install your modem drivers again.

· Error#629

Error Message: The port was disconnected by the remotemachine.

Solution:

1. Install Blue Frog connection software again

2. Try to enter an alternate Access Number

3. Try to install your modem drivers again.

· Error#630

Error Message: The port was disconnected due tohardware failure.

Solution:

1. Install Blue Frog connection software again

2. Try to reinstall your modem drivers.

3. Try to use an alternate modem.

4. Else, replace your current modem with a new one.

· Error#631

Error Message: The port was disconnected by the user.

Solution:

1. Ensure that the right Access Number is being dialed.

2. Try to reboot your computer.

· Error#632

Error Message: The structure size is incorrect.

Solution:

1. Try to reboot your computer

2. Install Blue Frog connection software again

· Error#633

Error Message: The port is already in use or is notconfigured for Remote Access dialout.

Solution:

Try to reboot your computer

Else try to reinstall your modem drivers.

· Error#634

Error Message: Cannot register your computer on theremote network

Solution:

Try to check your network settings and modify yourcomputer name.

Install the network control panel again.

· Error#635

Error Message: Unknown Error

Solution:

1. Try to reboot your computer

2. Install Blue Frog connection software again

3. Else try to reinstall your modem drivers.

· Error#636

Error Message: The wrong device is attached to the port

Solution: Check in your settings if you have chosen theright modem.

· Error#637

Error Message: The string could not be converted

Solution:

Try to reboot your computer

Install Blue Frog connection software again

· Error#638

Error Message: The request has timed out.

Solution:

Try to reboot your computer

Install Blue Frog connection software again

· Error#645

Error Message: Internal authentication error.

Solution:

1. Try to reboot your computer

2. Install Blue Frog connection software again

3. Else try to reinstall your modem drivers.

· Error#650

Error Message: The Remote Access server is notresponding.

Solution:

Check that your connection and network settings havecorrectly been configured.

Ensure that the modem has been correctly set up andlook for updated drivers.

Set FIFO buffers to a lower speed and ensure that youhave unchecked the option "Only connect at this speed".

· Error#676

Error Message: The line is busy

Solution: Ensure that your Access Number is stillactive and is correctly dialed.

· Error#678

Error Message: There is no answer.

Solution:

1. First of all check that your phone lines arecorrectly plugged in.

2. Ensure that the Access Number is correct

3. Else, try another Access number

4. If you are trying to make use of your connection ina bad weather, this might be the source of the problem. Wait until it calmsdown and try again.

5. Else, install your modem drivers again.

6. If the problem persists, you might need to contactyour ISP.

· Error#680

Error Message: There is no dial tone.

Solution:

First of all check that your phone lines are correctlyplugged in.

The phone lines might be damaged. Replace them and tryagain.

Else, install your modem drivers again.

If the problem persists, you might need to contact yourISP or a technician.

· Error#691

Error Message: Access denied because username and/orpassword is invalid on the domain.

Solution:

1. Ensure that you have entered the right username andpassword.

2. Make sure that your account is active and turned on.

3. You might also try to enter another Access Number.

4. If the problem persists, you might need to contactyour ISP.

· Error#692

Error Message: Hardware failure in port or attacheddevice.

Solution:

Browse for and remove any Blue Frog init strings.

Install Blue Frog connection software again

Else, install your modem drivers again.

· Error#718

Error Message: PPP Timeout

Solution:

1. Try to reboot your computer

2. Ensure that you have entered the right username andpassword

3. You might try another Access Number

4. Install Blue Frog connection software again

5. Else, install your modem drivers again.

· Error#721

Error Message: Remote PPP peer is not responding.

Solution: For Windows 2000/XP/Vista operating systems,ensure that the security setting for the dialer reads "Allow unsecuredPassword"

· Error#734

Error Message: The PPP link control protocolterminated.

Solution: For Windows 2000/XP/Vista operating systems,ensure that the security setting for the dialer reads "Allow unsecuredPassword"

· Error#777

Error Message: The connection attempt failed becausethe modem on the remote computer is out of order.

Solution:

1. Install Blue Frog connection software again

2. Try an alternate modem

3. Install your modem drivers again

4. Else, install a new modem

· Error#778

Error Message: It was not possible to verify theidentity of the server.

Solution:

1. Ensure that you are dialing the correct phone number

2. Verify the connection and Network settings

3. Ensure that you do not have any outrage on the phonenumber

4. Ensure that you have correctly installed your modemand check for updated drivers.

5. Set FIFO buffers to a lower speed and ensure thatyou have unchecked the option "Only connect at this speed".

· Error#779

Error Message: To dial out using this connection, youmust use a smart card.

Solution:

1. Ensure that all authorize is allowed in yourconnection settings in the Security section.

2. Verify that you have correctly set the other dialersettings.

3. Else, create the dialer again.

4. You might need to use the Smart Card Reader asinitially setup by the Network Administrator.

· Error#780

Error Message: An attempted functionis not valid for this connection.

Solution: Ensure that the dialer, not the one set up forLAN use though, has been properly installed and has the right settings.

· Error#781

Error Message: The encryption attempt failed because novalid certificate was found.

Solution: You have to get a valid certificate byregistering to the website http://windows.microsoft.com/...

NOTE: The solutionfor the following problems is already provided in the error messages. If youare still facing problems with them, either contact your ISP or a technician tofix the problem.

· Error#782

Error Message: Network Address Translation (NAT) iscurrently installed as a routing protocol, and must be removed before enablingInternet Connection Sharing

· Error#783

Error Message: Internet Connection Sharing cannot beenabled. The LAN connection selected as the private network is either notpresent, or is disconnected from the network. Please ensure that the LANadapter is connected before enabling Internet Connection Sharing.

· Error#784

Error Message: You cannot dial using this connection atlogon time, because it is configured to use a user name different than the oneon the smart card. If you want to use it at logon time, you must configure itto use the user name on the smart card.

· Error#785

Error Message: You cannot dial using this connection atlogon time, because it is not configured to use a smart card. If you want touse it at logon time, you must edit the properties of this connection so thatit uses a smart card.

· Error#786

Error Message: The L2TP connection attempt failedbecause there is no valid machine certificate on your computer for securityauthentication.

· Error#787

Error Message: The L2TP connection attempt failedbecause the security layer could not authenticate the remote computer.

· Error#788

Error Message: The L2TP connection attempt failedbecause the security layer could not negotiate compatible parameters with theremote computer.

· Error#789

Error Message: The L2TP connection attempt failedbecause the security layer encountered a processing error during initialnegotiations with the remote computer.

· Error#790

Error Message: The L2TP connection attempt failedbecause certificate validation on the remote computer failed.

· Error#791

Error Message: The L2TP connection attempt failedbecause security policy for the connection was not found.

· Error#792

Error Message: The L2TP connection attempt failedbecause security negotiation timed out.

· Error#793

Error Message: The L2TP connection attempt failedbecause an error occurred while negotiating security.

· Error#794

Error Message: The Framed Protocol RADIUS attribute forthis user is not PPP.

· Error#795

Error Message: The Tunnel Type RADIUS attribute forthis user is not correct.

· Error#796

Error Message: The Service Type RADIUS attribute forthis user is neither Framed nor Callback Framed.

· Error#797

Error Message: A connection to the remote computercould not be established because the modem was not found or was busy.

· Error#798

Error Message: A certificate could not be found thatcan be used with this Extensible Authentication Protocol.

· Error#799

Error Message: Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) cannotbe enabled due to an IP address conflict on the network. ICS requires the hostbe configured to use 192.168.0.1. Please ensure that no other client on thenetwork is configured to use 192.168.0.1

· Error#800

Error Message: Unable to establish the VPN connection.The VPN server may be un-reachable, or security parameters may not be configuredproperly for this connection

Solution:

1. Check your ADSL line as it is probably not synched.

2. Verify that your Security Options are correctly setin your connection options.

3. Either your Network Card or your modem might notwork properly. Contact a technician if the problem persists.

· Error#995

Error Message: Operation aborted.

· Error#1382

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Windows 7 No Sound / Windows 7 Sound is not working

2011-12-02T11:05:00.001+05:30

Hearing music and soundintensifies our enjoyment and excitement in using our computers, particularlyif the operating system installed is Windows 7, which is developed by softwaredevelopment tycoon Microsoft Corporation. Although we can still use our Windows7 computers even if we can’t hear sound, user interaction is highly diminishedmost especially in events like movie watching and playing games.

Windows 7 No Sound – Reasons

System volume is muted.

Basically, if the system volumeis muted, you can never a sound whatever application you are using. To check ifthe system volume of your Windows 7 computer is not muted, follow the stepsbelow:

1. Click the Start menu from thetask bar.

2. Head to the Control Panel.

3. Click Hardware and Sound andthen proceed to Sound.

4. Choose the Adjust SystemVolume option of the Sound tab.

If you can see a red sign in thevolume slider then the volume system is muted. Otherwise, you need to move theslider a little higher or to the level to which you can hear the sound. Makesure you have not checked the MUTE option in the sound properties.

Software or multimedia player application is not properly installed.

There are instances that thesoftware we are using can be the reason why we can’t hear a sound. When dealingwith multimedia files like audio and movie files, there are the so-calledcodecs that are important to play such object properly. If the multimediasoftware used doesn’t support or doesn’t have that codec then the files willnot be played properly, thus you cannot hear a sound.

Corrupt files are played.

Corrupt files are other culpritsof the having no sound in your Windows 7 computer. Mostly, we can experiencecorruption of multimedia or sound files when we have not downloaded or copiedit properly from the source. Moreover, there are also instances that thosefiles that underwent conversion from one format to another can contribute tothe sound problem of your Windows 7 computer.

Speakers are turned off.

When the speakers of yourcomputer are turned off, believe me you can never a sound. Speakers are used bythe sound card as a medium to which the sound is transported to the human ears.Next time, make it sure that you turned on the power of the computer speakersbefore blaming others.

Speaker cables are cut or are not connected properly to the right audiojack.

To connect speakers to ourcomputers, we need cables. If you weren’t able to connect the speaker cable tothe right audio jack of the computer, you will surely experience the “Windows 7no sound” dilemma. The appropriate audio jack for speaker cable is coloredgreen in most sound cards.

There are Windows 7 computersthat have three audio jacks; one for the output, the other is for input, andthe microphone jack. If you are going to connect the speaker cable to the inputjack then you will not hear a sound from the computer because it is not theappropriate jack to use.

Sound card is not installed.

A sound card or audio card is ahardware that is important so that sound and music can blast out from yourWindows 7 computers. It is the one responsible in handling the input and outputof audio signals from the computer to an external source like the speakers.

Obviously, if there is no soundcard installed on the computer, I am afraid you can never hear sound even abeep from your device. You can follow the steps below in observing whether ornot your computer is installed with a sound card.

1. Click Start menu from the taskbar.

2. Go to the Control Panel andthen select System and Security.

3. Click the Device Manageroption from the System tab.

4. Expand the Sound, Video, andGame Controllers category by double clicking it.

If you can see a sound card nameon the list, then you have an installed sound card, otherwise, you don’t haveany.

Note: You must an administrator privilege to view such advancedcomputer management option. If you are prompted for a password, enter thenecessary identifications.

To fix your problem, you need toinstall a sound card. You can either choose to install an internal or externalaudio card. Internal sound card is needed to be integrated into the motherboardof your Windows 7 computer. On the other hand, external sound card can beattached externally to your Windows 7 computer, either through PeripheralComponent Interconnect (PCI) slot or Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports.

Incompatible ordefective sound card is installed.

Compatibility is an importantterm to be considered when choosing sound cards or any other hardware that youwill connect into your computer. If you choose to install a sound card that isonly applicable for computers running the Windows XP operating system, you willsurely encounter sound problems if you install it into a Windows 7 computer.So, before you are going to spend money in buying sound cards, make it surethat it is compatible for computers having the Windows 7 operating system.

Meanwhile if the sound cardinstalled on your Windows 7 is defective, you cannot hear sound as well. Youwill know if your sound card has malfunctioned if you have tried the best thatyou can yet the solution is not fixed.

Corrupt or missing drivers

Aside from compatibility, driversare also important when it comes to sound card. Drivers are the onesresponsible in instructing the sound card during the manipulation of the inputand output of audio signals in and out of the computer. Sound cards are uselesswithout drivers. Likewise, corrupt drivers yield the same result as not havinga driver at all.

You will know if there is aproblem with your sound card driver if you can see a yellow exclamation pointin the name of your sound card in the Device Manager of the computer.

AMD Fusion APU Llano in a Multi-Tasking Technology

2011-06-13T03:27:00.001+05:30

AMD's move to ultra thin 32-nanometer microprocessors may not sound too provocative, but it is if you like powerful laptops with long battery life. Before I dive into telling why you should care, first some background.

On 6^TH June 2011 AMD announced its first shipments of 32nm A-series quad-core chips, codenamed Llano, for laptops and desktops. After playing second fiddle to Intel for decades, AMD has now caught up to Intel on the 32nm manufacturing process front, giving it a more competitive foothold. The new chips may also help AMD bounce back in one particularly important segment: notebook processors.

Laptops Love Llano

The 32nm chip production technology is the next evolution in chip manufacturing, an upgrade over the 45nm process AMD has been using most recently. By reducing the size of the features on the chip, companies can ramp up performance and energy efficiency, while creating smaller chips.

Fusion chips, already found in $200 laptops and desktops, are considered by analysts to have better graphics performance than Intel's chips. This is a major breakthrough for laptop users, as most of us have had to put up with middling graphics performance from earlier integrated graphics processors in exchange for greater mobility. The new processors also are more energy efficient, helping to preserve much-needed battery life on notebooks.

Several new laptops have been announced that use the lower-end (45nm) series of the AMD Fusion processor, including entertaining and gaming laptops from MSI, the CR650 and GX680, and, after interest from Dell early last year, Dell's first AMD Fusion notebook, the Inspiron M102z. Llano-powered laptops using the 32nm process are expected this quarter.

AMD vs. Intel

Although AMD is over a year late to the party (Intel started using the 32nm process in 2009 and sold its first 32nm processors in January 2010), it's better late than never. Intel has always had clear market dominance-and currently has over 80% of the chip market-but Llano could help AMD compete against Intel's Sandy Bridge processors, especially if AMD is able to gain more notebook manufacturer support.

AMD was steadily gaining on Intel in the notebook processor market, from a 12% market share in 2005 to a peak of 17% in 2007, according to research site Trefis. This was in no small part due to Dell at that time ending its Intel exclusivity and using more AMD chips. But AMD has so far been competing from a "low price" standpoint, lagging behind Intel when it comes to both chip process technology and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) adoption.

AMD's latest Fusion technology, which includes the A-Series Llano chips, coupled with the early Intel Sandy Bridge recall, have given AMD a great boost in this epic battle.

In short, finally getting to the 32nm technology was an essential step for AMD, especially when the emphasis these days is not just on value, but also on the utmost in mobility and performance.Watch the video and enjoy amd's Llano

Roadmap for the AMD Fusion release

GigaByte GA-A75-UD4H Motherboardfeatures Socket FM1, home for 32nm "Llano" and future APUs

OS X Lion's download-only distribution

2011-06-12T11:56:00.001+05:30

Apple's decision to sell the Mac OS X Lion upgrade through its own Mac App Store won't hurt the company's bottom line but will certainly impact traditional retailers, a market analyst said Friday.

"The Best Buys, the Staples, the PC Connections, they all still have a decent Mac software business," said Stephen Baker of retail research firm NPD Group. "This will have an impact on all those guys. [The release of an OS upgrade] is always a good opportunity for them to connect to customers, get them into the store and thinking about upgrading their devices."

And with Apple pushing Lion only through its download Mac App Store, those retailers will be out of luck this time around.

Likely forever, said Baker

"The software business is in the throes of significant changes, and [Apple's move] is a part of that," said Baker. "The whole business is clearly changing how operating system developers deliver upgrades."

On 6^th June 2011, Apple announced that it would start selling Lion on the Mac App Store some time next month for $29.99.

Baker declined to estimate the brunt of Apple's decision on U.S. retailers, saying it was impossible to gauge because NPD has no insights into how much revenue the Mac App Store was generating or how customers will react to Lion.

But he said that Apple would easily make more money on Lion than it did on the predecessor, 2009's Snow Leopard.

That upgrade sold $29, but because it was an established DVD-based boxed product, Apple didn't bring in as much per unit as it will with Lion as a download-only title.

Two years ago, NPD said its data showed Snow Leopard had sold twice as many copies in its first two weeks of availability than the 2007 upgrade to Mac OS X 10.5, aka Leopard, which was priced at $129 for a single license, $149 for a five-license Family Pack.

Baker wasn't surprised that Apple will use its Mac App Store to sell Lion.

"The software guys always resented the retail distribution and its physical costs," said Baker. "They're used to selling bits and bytes."

During the Monday keynote at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Philip Schiller, the company's head of marketing, claimed that the Mac App Store was the world's largest seller of personal computer software, and was beating Best Buy, Wal-Mart and Office Depot in that arena.

But other factors beyond cutting out the middleman were probably more important to Apple.

"This affords them an additional level of control," said Baker, referring to Apple's well-known fondness for holding tight to the reins of business, from hardware and software design to retail with its own chain of stores. "For them, controlling the user experience [of purchasing and upgrading] is more important than the money."

Baker expects that Lion will do well, but cautioned that even in the best circumstances, revenue generated by the upgrade will be "just a footnote" to its total income.

Apple may be taking an unprecedented sales step with its desktop operating system, but the company's not only following an existing trend but will be tailed by others, including Microsoft, said Baker.

"There's no [retail] upgrade cycle for tablets or Smartphone’s," Baker observed, adding that Lion's use of the Mac App Store is just an extension of those models.

"And it's clear that Microsoft will on some level go to an app store in Windows 8," Baker continued. "The question is whether their app store is a controlled environment, or whether they'll work with their OEM and channel partners. I think there will always be ways for retailers and OEMs to partake in software sales. Microsoft is basically a good channel partner."

While Microsoft showed some parts of Windows 8 on June 2, it has said nothing about integrating an application store in the new operating system. Earlier, however, several Windows bloggers reported finding signs of one in leaked previews of the OS.

Android vs. iPhone and iPad by the numbers

2011-06-12T11:42:00.000+05:30

It looks increasingly like Android will be the major challenger to both Apple's iPhone and iPad.

In the tablet market, Apple's iOS has a commanding lead, while Android is the only other OS that registers a market share in double digits. In the smartphone arena, there are other significant competitors, such as BlackBerry and Windows. However, BlackBerry market share is dropping, according to comScore's latest survey -- in fact, Apple surpassed RIM in comScore's April report -- while Microsoft has yet to make much of a dent.

Tablet market share

The iPad held a commanding 83.9% of the worldwide tablet market last year, with Android tablets far behind at 14.2%, according to Gartner. Other stats show a similar healthy lead. For example, a recent Modelmetrics Web survey found 83% of respondents planning to roll out iPads in the enterprise and 34% with plans for Android tablets.

However, Gartner expects the market-share difference to narrow considerably over the next few years, with iOS holding 47.1% by 2015 and Android growing to 38.6%.

Bottom line: iOS should remain the market leader for the next few years, but Android is expected to grow considerably -- largely at Apple's expense.

Smartphone market share

3months smartphone market share

Despite its reputation as a groundbreaking Smartphone when first introduced in 2007, the iPhone doesn't have the market clout of the iPad. Apple has slightly more than a quarter of the U.S.Smartphone market, according to a comScore MobiLens report, but IDC estimates just 15.7% of the global pie .

And some analysts expect the iPhone to slip worldwide in the coming years as both Android and Windows Phone gain traction. IDC predicts that Windows Phone will be the No. 2 OS behind Android worldwide by 2015, with iOS in third place.

5 best features in Apple's iOS 5

2011-06-10T17:18:00.004+05:30

Earlier this week at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple finally offered up a look at iOS 5, the planned update to the company's mobile OS. Although it won’t be out until this fall - Apple isn't yet saying exactly when -iOS 5 promises to deliver much-needed changes to the OS, which is used on the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

Apple told WWDC attendees that the new OS will have some 200 new features, though only 10 of them were showcased during Monday's two-hour keynote, which also focused on iCloud and OS X 10.7 "Lion."

Here are the five iOS 5-based changes I'm looking forward to most.

New notifications

Let's start with the crowd-pleaser: Apple has finally revamped the way iOS handles message notifications. This was long overdue.

Until now, whenever a notification arrived, it popped up on the screen, forcing you to either view the message or close the notification window. The new method doesn't force you to stop whatever you're doing; the notification literally rotates into view in the form of an unobtrusive banner beneath the menu bar. Within seconds, the banner -it displays the appropriate app icon and the message-gently flips back out of view. If the notification requires immediate attention, tapping it automatically switches you to the app so you can respond.

Don't worry if you liked the current style of modal notifications. They haven't been cut completely. In iOS 5 they'll still be an option when you configure your apps under Settings->Notifications. And they're still useful in certain situations. After all, not all notifications should be ignored-like a reminder to take medicine. But I suspect most users will opt for the less intrusive banner, which is selected by default.

If you want to retrieve any notifications you've ignored, you use Apple's new Notification Center, a completely original idea that no one has ever thought of. (That sound, by the way, was hundreds of Android fans' heads bursting.)

I kid, of course; The notification screen isn't particularly original or new to anyone except iOS users who haven't modified their system software, but that doesn't make its inclusion any less welcome. Swiping your finger down from the top of the iPhone screen slides open the Notification Center, where all of your alerts are organized by app. (Apple also added in Stocks and Weather widgets.) You remove older notifications by hitting an X and then confirming that you want to make the app entries go away by tapping Clear.

Making the new system more useful, customizations are available on a per-app basis in the Notification Settings area. You can sort notifications manually or by time, and you can edit the display order of the apps. One thing to keep in mind if you can't pull yourself away from certain apps: You can set the apps to display banner notifications and on the Lock Screen. That'll be handy, since you won't have to spend time unlocking the phone just to check notifications.

GUIDE TOWARDS INTEL'S CORE PROCESSOR FAMILY

2011-06-10T15:49:00.001+05:30

For many of us computer users, a PC’s CPU – or central processing unit – is an unseen device that we know little about. We’re bamboozled by numbers and frequencies ('gigahertz' or GHz) that do little to assist in our understanding of why one computer's performance may be better than another. However, it helps to have some working knowledge about your next computer’s CPU, so you can make an informed buying decision and get a computer that’s fast enough for your needs.

At present, the most popular CPUs for new notebooks and desktop PCs are the Intel Core i3, Intel Core i5 and Intel Core i7. These CPUs are available in various performance grades and they have plenty of features that ensure a fast computing experience.

Intel Core i7-980X

Guide to CPUs

At a glance it’s hard to know which CPU to choose (unless you know some nitty gritty details), but you can follow this general guide. The Intel Core i3 CPU is featured in entry-level computers that can be used for basic office tasks, Internet browsing and online communications, photo editing, watching high-definition videos, and even for some basic video production. Pricing for computers with a Core i3 CPU starts from around $800.

The Intel Core i5 CPU is for mid-range computers and it supplies a little more speed for everyday tasks as well as gaming and video work. Computers with a Core i5 CPU generally cost around $1300 depending on the configuration.

The Intel Core i7 is for high-end computers and it offers the best performance for playing games, video editing and design work. If you require a really fast computer, and money is no object, then look for one with a Core i7 CPU. Prices start from around $1900 for computers with Core i7 CPUs.

Intel Core i3-540

More CPU details

While the guide above is a good rule of thumb, you may want to understand more about your new PC’s CPU. The main details you need to compare CPUs are the clock speed, the number of cores they have and whether they have Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost technologies.

Clock speed: The clock speed, or frequency, refers to the speed of the CPU, and this determines how quickly a task can be performed (for example loading a program). It is measured in gigahertz (GHz).

Number of cores: The number of cores relates to how many ‘engines’ are inside the CPU. A CPU with four cores (quad-core) will outperform a CPU with two cores (dual-core) in instances where you run multiple programs at the same time (also know as multitasking), or when you run high-end software such as Adobe Photoshop for photo editing or Adobe Premiere for video editing.

Hyper-Threading: Hyper-Threading is Intel’s proprietary technology that it uses to make a dual-core CPU perform as if it has four cores and a quad-core CPU perform like it has eight cores. Essentially, it allows each core to work on two tasks at the same time, thereby allowing you to multitask without noticing a drop in your PC's performance.

Turbo Boost: Turbo Boost is another Intel technology that it uses to make the CPU to run faster than its default speed when necessary. For example, a CPU with a clock speed of 2.4GHz can run as high as 2.93GHz if the CPU auto-monitoring tools determine the workload requires the faster speed and that the CPU environment is cool enough to handle the increase.

Intel Core i7-870

Intel Core i3:

Core i3 is Intel’s latest budget processor. Even though the Core i3 is the lowest of the bunch, it’s still a very good processor that has received well to outstanding reviews by the majority of experts and customers alike.

The technology behind Core i3 processors includes dual core base, hyper threading support, and virtualization. Core i3 processors do support 64-bit versions of Windows. By taking advantage of Intel’s new chipset and 32nm technology, Core i3’s have even been known to perform closely to lower end Core 2 Quad processors.

If you use your computer for basic tasks such as word processing, email, surfing the web, etc., a Core i3 processor is more than enough to handle all of that with ease. A core i3 processor is a solid, affordable choice for the heavy majority of people.

Some highlights from our review:

"The 2.93GHz Core i3-530 is based on the same 32-nanometer design, codenamed "Clarkdale," as are the newest Core i5 chips. In fact, apart from a lower clock speed, there's only one significant difference between the Core i3 and the Core i5 series: The Core i3 lacks the Intel Turbo Boost technology found on the Core i5 and i7."

"If you're interested in HD-video playback and light gaming, however, the Core i3-530's built-in graphics core is an enticing feature. It accelerates both 2D and 3D graphics when used with the H55, H57, or Q57 chipsets."

"The Core i3-530 took 4 minutes and 41 seconds to complete our Sony Vegas MPEG-2 rendering test; while this is much faster than the 6 minutes and 23 seconds it took last year's Core 2 Duo E8400 chip, it's nearly a minute longer than AMD's similarly priced Athlon II X4 635..."

Intel Core i5:

Core i5 is the latest “mid-range” processor by Intel. A step up from the Core i3, i5 processors will give you a noticeable difference in speed, depending on what type of applications that you run. If you are playing solitaire, you aren’t going to be able to tell a difference between Core i3 and Core i5 processors. If you are editing multiple files in Adobe Flash, with virtualization software, you may notice the Core i5 to be snappier.

Technically, Core i5 processors are marketed a bit differently. There are two main types of Core i5 Processors, dual core, and quad core. Dual core i5 processors have 32nm technology, hyper threading support, virtualization support, and Turbo Boost technology. Quad core i5 processors have 45nm technology, virtualization support and Turbo Boost technology, but do not have hyper threading support.

Do the two types of Core i5 processors offer similar performance? Yes, in most situations. However, one may be better than another when running multi threaded applications. Be sure to take note of which specific Core i5’s are dual core vs. Core i5’s that are quad core, if you are looking to buy a specific processor.

In most situations, a Core i5 is a safe bet. Core i5’s offer enough performance to do stuff like video editing and gaming, and more than enough performance to do basic stuff like word processing, internet surfing, and email. A Core i5 processor is a great, mid-range priced processor for people who use their computers frequently and often multi task.

Intel Core i7:

The Intel Core i7 CPU for notebook computers features two or four cores depending on the model, and it also supports Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost. The Intel Core i7 for desktop PCs is only available with four cores, and it has Hyper-Threading and Turbo Boost.

The Intel® Core™ i7 processor delivers best-in-class performance for the most demanding applications. This quad-core processor features 8-way multitasking capability and additional L3 cache. With adaptive performance and built-in visual capabilities this 2nd generation processor brings more intelligence to your PC.

2nd generation Intel® Core™ i7 processors feature Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 and Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology◊, enabling required security applications and protocols to run efficiently in the background without compromising productivity.

Today's more visually sophisticated communication needs will be met with Intel® HD Graphics 2000 Technology, integrated into 2nd generation Intel Core processors. This eliminates the need for a discrete graphics card, reducing power consumption and system cost.

CPU naming conventions

Usually you will see a number after the CPU name. To be honest it looks like another cryptic code to be cracked, but it’s easy to understand if you have the correct abbreviation information.

For example, the Core i5 is available in the following models for a notebook computer: Core i5-520UM, Core i5-430M, Core i5-520M, and Core i5-540M. Overall, the higher the model number, the better the performance, unless the model name has a ‘U’ or an ‘L’ in it. These letters refer to low-power usage and indicate that the CPU will run with a slower clock speed than CPUs using standard voltage. For example, the Core i5-520UM is a slower CPU than the Core i5-520M.

Intel Core i5-750

Note that the additional letter ‘M’ in the CPU indicates that it's ‘mobile’, thereby signifying that it’s a CPU designed for a notebook.

When considering the Core i7, you might also see a ‘Q’ in the name; this stands for ‘quad-core’ and means that the CPU has four cores as opposed to two for the non-Q models.

Depending on your computing needs, Intel’s new family of CPUs offers great PC performance, no matter your budget. Before choosing your new PC, do a bit of homework and consider what your computing needs are today, and what they will be a few years from now. The PC you buy today – with some future-proofing – should provide for all your computing needs.

Comparison Chart Core i3,Core i5,core i7

Second Generation Core processor family

HP, Microsoft Takes Joint Aim at Oracle

2011-06-09T17:03:00.001+05:30

LAS VEGAS - Hewlett-Packard says that its customers run more Oracle databases and applications on HP hardware than any other vendor out there. But if you are at HP's big user conference this week and interested in talking to Oracle, you won't find the company listed as an exhibitor on the expo floor.

But a couple of HP attendees did report seeing a truck with Oracle advertising on it outside the conference. Oracle is nonetheless on the agenda at the conference. On Wednesday, one conference session was titled "Oracle database migrations to Microsoft SQL Server with HP services."

Welcome to the vendor wars.

Microsoft has had a supersized presence at this year's conference, the result of a joint $250 million, three-year investment that HP and Microsoft announced last year to improve the integration of their products.

The fruits of that investment include newly announced products optimized for Microsoft SQL Server, including the HP Business Data Warehouse Appliance, and HP Database Consolidation Solution for Microsoft SQL, used for consolidating transactional databases.

As HP officials try to encourage migrations from Oracle to Microsoft on HP hardware, HP is also saying that its Oracle customers have nothing to be concerned about even as it touts the Microsoft platform.

"They are speaking out of both sides of their mouths," said Allen Allison, chief security officer at NaviSite, a co-location and managed hosting provider with 12 data centers in the U.S. and overseas, who was at the conference.

His firm runs Oracle on HP x86 platforms as well as its Itanium systems. "I think they realize that, at the end of the day, as much as they (HP) love being partnered with Microsoft, they do have a significant installed base with Oracle."

Paul Miller, HP's vice president of systems and solutions, enterprise servers, storage and networking, said, "We're going to have the best performing solutions on Oracle for customers who choose that."

"Oracle does not own the networking technology," said Miller, who added that as networking becomes "more key to scale out architectures, we're going to continue to take their code and outperform them and outrun them."

Oracle said this week that its database 11g running on in SPARC Enterprise M8000 Server beats HP and IBM in one benchmark.

HP is also trying to ensure that Oracle users running Itanium have options. In March, Oracle announced it was stopping development of all future versions of Oracle products on Itanium, but that it will continue to provide support for existing versions of Oracle products running on Itanium.

"To be clear, there is still five to six years of support for Oracle on Itanium, so customers don't need to jump now -- most customers are looking at this as long term," Miller said.

Intel Core i3

2011-05-31T18:22:00.002+05:30

Intel Core i3 microprocessor family
Core i3 line of entry-level Core-branded microprocessors was introduced on January 7, 2010 at Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Performance and price-wise these are middle-class CPUs, positioned between more expensive and more powerful Core i5 and Core i7 microprocessors, and budget Pentium and Celeron processor families. Based on Westmere (enhanced Nehalem) micro-architecture, Core i3 CPUs integrate dual-channel DDR3 memory controller, separate DMI interface to peripheral devices, HD-capable graphics controller, and incorporate all basic and some advanced micro-architecture features, such as per-core 256 KB level 2 cache, large level 3 cache shared between two cores, SSE4 instructions, and support for Virtualization and HyperThreading technologies. As common with entry-level and budget families, Core i3 line doesn't include advanced features, or have some of its features crippled:

Currently (February 2010), the processors include only two CPU cores, as opposed to 4 cores in more expensive Core i5 and Core i7 families.
Core i3 CPUs have Turbo Boost Technology disabled.
Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) instructions are not supported;
Processors do not support Virtualization for directed I/O (VT-d) and Trusted Execution Technology features.
Intel Core i3 line up currently consists of desktop and mobile Core i3 families. Desktop Core i3 microprocessors are packaged in 1156-land Land-Grid Array (LGA) package, and require socket 1156 motherboards. Mobile Core i3 CPUs are manufactured in 1288-ball BGA or 988 micro-PGA package. BGA processors are soldered on directly on motherboards, and PGA processors use socket 988

2nd Generation Intel® Core™Processor Family for Desktops

Product Overview

Selecting the right processor is key when purchasing or upgrading your business PCs. The processor must keep pace with new trends in e-commerce, complex applications, and security that are applicable to your business Meet your business needs with a processor from the 2nd gen Intel® Core™ processor family, which offers improved adaptive performance and built-in visual capabilities to bring more intelligent performance to your business PC.

The Intel® Core™ i3 processor provides the basis for an affordable PC. This dual-core processor with 4-way multitasking capability has built-in performance headroom for software upgrades, providing an excellent return on investment.

FEATURES AND BENEFITS

With 2nd generation Intel Core i3 processors, you get the following features built in:

· Intel® HT Technology◊ allows each core of your processor to work on two tasks at the same time.

· Intel® Smart Cache is dynamically allocated to each processor core based on workload, which significantly reduces latency and improves performance.

Featured Technologies

Get more responsive multitasking with select processors in the 2nd gen Intel Core processor family, which feature Intel® Turbo Boost Technology12.0 and Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology1, enabling required security applications and protocols to run efficiently in the background without compromising your productivity.Information security is vital to business. Securing information and data requires complex encryption software, which slows PC performance. With Advanced Encryption Solution New Instructions (AES-NI) integrated into the processor, the encryption and decryption operation is accelerated, saving you time.

With the increase of video conferencing and social media, business communication has become more visually sophisticated. Intel® HD Graphics 2000, integrated into the 2nd gen Intel Core processors, allows PC hardware to stay in step with these new visual media needs. The need for a discrete graphics card is eliminated, reducing power consumption and system cost.

2nd gen Intel Core processors with Intel® vPro™ technology 2 can help reduce costs and increase efficiency by taking advantage of intelligent performance and unique hardware-assisted security and manageability features. Remote, automated manageabilityfeatures make PC maintenance easier and keep costs low. The system can be remotely configured or diagnosed, and an infected PC can be isolated or repaired. An Intel vPro technology-based system minimizes disruptions to daily business operations.

These 2nd gen Intel Core processors are also power efficient, enabling more energy efficient platforms which can meet ENERGY STAR* 3 and other global environmental requirements.

Intel’s technologies and innovations can increase the longevity of the computer, protecting your investment and supporting long-term business growth

Intel® Core™ i7 Processor—Best-in-Class Performance

The Intel® Core™ i7 processor delivers best-in-class performance for the most demanding applications. This quad-core processor features Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0, 8-way multitasking capability, and additional L3 cache.

Intel® Core™ i5 Processor—The Next Level of Productivity

The Intel® Core™ i5 processor delivers the next level of productivity. With Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0, this quad-core processor with 4-way multitasking capability delivers extra speed whenever you need it as well as security features to help protect information and data.

Intel® Core™ i3 Processor—Affordable Business PC

The Intel® Core™ i3 processor provides the basis for an affordable business PC. This dual-core processor with 4-way multitasking capability has built-in performance headroom for software upgrades, providing an excellent return on investment

3 Step Guide To Overclock Your Core i3, i5, or i7 – Updated!

so many users are searching around the net these days looking for advice on how to over clock their new systems but don’t know where to start. To help everyone out, I decided a how-to guide was in order. Searching around forums can be confusing and intimidating. There are so many people willing to give advice, but who can you trust? It’s hard to know, and I’ve seen many users sent on wild goose chases because they are following advice that doesn't solve or even address their specific problem. I’ve also seen too much trial and error overclocking. What I will attempt to do is create a very simple three step guide to “one-size-fits-all” over clocking.

Methodology

My goal here is for this overclocking guide to be useful for anyone with a newer Intel based system, i3, i5, i7, LGA1156 or LGA1366. With the same basic principles applying to all of them, the basic process doesn’t change whether you are planning to use your system as an everyday system, gaming or if you want to push the limits for a single benchmark.

This guide is also independent of your cooling system. Whether you are using the stock Intel cooler or if you’re pushing to the extreme with liquid nitrogen, the basic steps remain the same. One thing that is far too common is errors in mounting your cooling system, specifically the application of the thermal interface material (TIM). If you don’t have much experience mounting a cooling apparatus, please refer to this excellent guide from Arctic Silver.

Determining methods for finding a stable overclock are highly controversial, and my suggestion is that we agree to disagree. Everyone has their individual definition of a stable system, but when I refer to “stable” in this guide, I am referring to the stability of your selected “stability test.” So for a power user or gamer who wants a reliable system that won’t ever crash due to an overclock pushed too far, you’d need to test with a program that will load all of the cores and threads applicable to your CPU, OCCT and Prime95 are two popular choices. For a benching team member looking to squeeze every last MHz out of their chip for a 7 second SuperPI 1M run on liquid nitrogen cooling, SuperPI 1M would be the ideal test. In my examples below, my verbiage will obviously be geared more towards those running tests like Prime95. Super PI 1M only takes a few seconds to complete, so when I say “run your stability test for five minutes” obviously you will have to tailor that instruction for your individual situation.

So with that in mind, we will attempt to isolate each portion of the system and overclock one piece at a time. This may seem time consuming at first glance, but rest assured this can potentially save you hours of troubleshooting and frustration. So go slow, and follow each step very carefully.

Micro-architecture

The CPU micro-architecture has taken a huge leap from the 65nm Core to the new generation 45 and 32nm technology, it has brought many changes not only to the CPU’s but also to the chipset and motherboard design and functioning. This is what make overclocking the i3/i5/i7 CPU’s so much different to their predecessor LGA 775 CPU’s.

The naming convention can be a bit confusing so let us look at the various CPU and their names:

First we have the Nehalem family which are all 45 nm CPU’s that included i7 1366 Bloomfield (i7-920 i7-975) and Lynnfield socket 1156 i5/i7 (i7-750 to i7-860). These are all quad cores with HT except for the i5 which has no HT.

Then the next family is Westmere which is essentially die shrink 32 nm CPU version of Nehalem and again you have the Clarkdale (socket 1156) in flavors of i5 and i3, both dual core processors with HT.

Gulftown which is the hex-core CPU’s and not available yet are also part of the Westmere family and features 6 physical cores with HT and will be socket 1366 only.

The above are all desktop chips, then to you get the Arrandale and Clarksfield CPU’s which are mobile processors and the Gainstown which is the server equivalent of Bloomfield.

So, to summarize, we have socket LGA 1366 and LGA1156 which are essentially the board platforms that carry certain 45 and 32 nm CPU variants. Both platforms are DDR3 where the 1156 is dual channel only.