How to partition your drive before installing Windows 10

So you're interested in trying out Windows 10? Well, you're in luck. Microsoft released a Technical Preview of the upcoming Windows operating system that is free for anyone to download and install. There are a few different options for getting Windows 10 on your device. You can simply install it on a secondary PC over your existing Windows operating system, you can use a virtual PC emulator to test it out or you can partition your hard drive and install it on your primary PC. This guide will show you how to do the last of the three.
While using a virtual PC to install Windows 10 may be easier, performance may take a hit because you are splitting your memory between two operating systems. Creating a hard-drive partition, which will split the hard drive into different storage volumes, will let you experience Windows 10 as it was meant to be. The best part about this method is that once it's all said and done, you can simply delete the partition and return your PC to normal.

Open the Control Panel, click on System and Security and select Administrative Tools. Double-click on Computer Management and under the Storage submenu, click Disk Management.
Right-click your primary drive (in most cases this will be theC volume) and select the Shrink Volume option from the list. If you are installing the 32-bit version of Windows 10 you will need at least 16GB, while the 64-bit version will require 20GB of free space. On my 700GB hard drive, I allocated 100GB to Windows 10, which should give me more than enough space to play around with the operating system. Remember that 1,000 megabytes is roughly equivalent to 1 gigabyte (technically it is 1,024MB to 1GB).

You should now see an "unallocated" amount of storage appear next to your C volume. Right-click it, select "New Simple Volume" from the list and click on the Next button. You can assign the drive any letter you please; I simply selected D. After clicking Next a third time, you will come to the Format Partition section. Make sure NTFS is selected for the file system and choose a name for the partition. I went with the name "Windows 10." Click Next one last time and then on Finished. You should now have a blank drive to install Windows 10 on.

To get things back to normal, right-click the partition and select "Delete Volume" from the list. Then, right-click the C drive and select Extend Volume.

You can find a step-by-step guide for installing the Windows 10 Technical Preview on your PC by clicking this link. Just be sure that you are installing the preview on the newly partitioned drive; in my case that is the D drive. You don't want to install it on your primary C drive.

Read More

Free app Memory Clean

today, I wrote about Memory Diag, a Mac app that helps you optimize system memory to help you through periods of sluggish behavior. Memory Clean is another such free app that takes a slightly different approach to monitoring memory resources. If you could combine the two, you might have the perfect memory optimizer for OS X. But because the technology does not exist to combine these two apps, let's take a look at how Memory Clean goes about its business and how it differs from Memory Diag.

Memory Clean

Like Memory Diag, Memory Clean installs an icon in the menu bar. By default, the icon features a small dial graphic showing the amount of free memory your Mac currently has at its disposal. In preferences, you can hide the dial graphic while keeping the dynamic free memory figure. You can also change the number to display as a percentage, and you can add Memory Clean to the Dock and have it start when you log in.
Advanced preferences let you set a threshold level for when your free memory goes into the red. That is, at what point you'd like Memory Clean's number in the menu bar to turn red to alert you that you are running low on memory resources. There is also a box to check to have the app autoclean your Mac's memory when it falls below that threshold.

Memory Clean

I don't have any scientific or anecdotal evidence to support the following advice, but I would counsel you against enabling Auto Clean. Like Memory Diag, Memory Clean is most effective after you close an intensive app because it cleans up the caches that the application left littered across your Mac that can fragment your memory and slow down performance. I would get in the habit of running Memory Clean in such instances rather than having it automatically kick in when memory resources are running low and your system is feeling sluggish. When Memory Clean cleans your memory, your already slow system will proceed to get even slower. Better to quit any demanding apps to bring your system back up to something resembling full speed before running Memory Clean to optimize performance further.
To run Memory Clean, click its icon in the menu bar. A window will appear to show dynamic figures of your Mac's current active, wired, inactive, and free memory. Click the Clean Memory button to initiate a scan to free up more memory. The scan takes between 15 and 30 seconds to run, in my experience. Alternatively, you can right-click the menu bar icon to access via a small pull-down menu the same stats and clean-memory command, along with the app's preferences.

Memory Clean

While both Memory Clean and Memory Diag perform the same service, each boasts a useful feature the other lacks. Memory Clean keeps me better informed. It shows me the exact number of MBs of memory I have free at any given time, turning red to give me a clear warning when memory resources are scarce. Whereas Memory Diag does a superior job of diagnosing which apps are memory hogs. It lists the offending app(s) so I can easily eradicate any problems.

Read More

Quick Mac

Quick Mac prank for April Fools' Day

If someone you know uses his or her Mac regularly, then you can tackle the system with a quick change that might give you a chuckle or two this April Fools' day. Simply take a screenshot of the display, and then set it to be a full-screen image in Apple's Preview program.

Granted this trick is nothing new, but can easily be done in OS X, in the event you need to jump in, perform the prank, and jump out without being detected:

1. Take a full-screen screenshot
   First, press Shift-Control-Command-3 to save a screenshot of the display to the clipboard.
2. Make a new image in Preview
   Open the Preview application (Press Command-Space and search for it in Spotlight), and then press Command-N to make a new image.
3.  Set the image to be full-screen
   Press Control-Command-F to toggle full-screen mode on the current image (the screenshot).

With this setup, the display will look the way they left it, but nothing on screen can be clicked or moved. Instead, the mouse cursor will turn into a crosshair and click-dragging will create a selection box. Of course, the person will find out the issue when they try to access menus and the real menu bar drops down from the top of the display, but until then it may be fun to see the confusion ensue.

Read More

Test the RAM on your Mac

If you have a used Mac, or a newer one, or one that you have serviced to upgrade its RAM, then it is highly recommended to test the system's RAM before relying on it for day-to-day activities.

RAM is the active work-desk that the OS and applications use for running, and if there is a problem with RAM, then problems stemming from crashes and freezes to data corruption can occur.

This is similar to having a gaping hole on your desk, where things you use like pens, rulers (that is, applications), can fall through and be lost. Alternatively, if you are writing or drawing and have that same hole under your paper, then when you get to the irregular surface, you can puncture the paper or otherwise frustrate your workflow, like data corruption.

To test your Mac's memory, you can use a number of tools, like the Terminal-based Memtest suite, or the OS X GUI wrapper for it called Rember. However, these run within OS X, and having the OS loaded in the background restricts the memory the OS is using from being tested by these programs. Therefore, to minimize the amount of RAM used while testing, boot to the Apple Hardware Test suite, and run the memory tests from there.

To launch the hardware tests, boot your Mac with Option-D held down immediately after you hear the boot chimes, and the tests will download from Apple's servers.

If you have a relatively new Mac, then these tests will run automatically when invoked; however, if not, then you will have to click the Test button -- but be sure to check the box for an extended memory test. It may take a few hours to complete the extended test, but when finished the system will report any errors it has detected with your RAM.

If you see any errors, then be sure to address them by replacing your RAM. Often, manufacturers will provide lifetime warranties for their RAM, so before purchasing new RAM, contact the manufacturer for its warranty policy.

Read More

Make phone calls from your Mac right now

  

Today, Apple announced OS X Yosemite and a healthy list of new features set to make a debut in the upcoming release. But what Apple didn't say was that a lot of the features are actually available in OS X right now, just not through Apple's own apps. That means you'll need to use a third-party app to gain some of the same functionality.

Case in point, you can already place and receive phone calls on your Mac. And instead of restricting you to only your iPhone, you can also hook up an Android device to place and receive calls through you computer.
The app you'll need to perform such black magic is called Connect.

After buying Connect, which will set you back $1.99, you will then need to follow the instructions to pair your device to your Mac.

The app will live in your Mac's menu bar along the top of your screen. When you need to place a call, click on the app icon, and then dial the number, look up your contacts, or direct Siri to place the call for you.
The call itself is broadcast through your Mac's speakers, using the microphone equipped on your Mac.
I tried connecting an Android device to the app, but didn't have any luck. With the iPhone connected, though, I was able to place and receive calls. There was a bit of a delay on my end, but otherwise the app worked just as advertised.


Tags: Computers, Software, Phones, Mobile, OS X Mountain Lion, OS X Mavericks 

Read More

How to save to hidden directories in OS X

 How to save to hidden directories in OS X

Accessing a hidden folder from within an application may be tricky, but can be overcome using a simple Finder trick.

How to save to hidden directories in OS X

While in standard uses there may be little reason to save files to a hidden directory in OS X, there are sometimes cases when you might want to do this. The operating system contains numerous hidden directories, such as the Library folder in your user account, a number of system folders that contain configuration files and programs, as well as the ability to manually hide specific folders on your system which, for fun or otherwise, can be used to keep items relatively hidden.
If you would like to access a hidden folder on your system, you might find that accessing them can be a bit of a burden. One approach is to regularly unhide the folders, either by changing their finder flags or by setting the Finder itself to show hidden directories.
Another approach is to open a program under the root account, since this account has full access to the entire file system, and should therefore be able to access any directory. This can be done by opening Terminal and targeting the desired application's executable using the "sudo" command, such as the following for TextEdit:

sudo /Applications/TextEdit.app/Contents/MacOS/TextEdit

While this might seem logical, unfortunately it will be met with the same restrictions and you will still not be able to see a hidden folder in the Finder. This approach is good for editing files that can only be accessed by root, but will not overcome the inability to see a hidden folder.

If you would instead like to keep files hidden in the Finder but still access them in a program you are using (be it run under your account or under root), then you can use a technique in the Finder to access it.

Simply choose Go To Folder from the Finder's Go menu, and then enter the path to the hidden directory in the field (note that this field supports tab-completion of file and folder names). Then press Enter to open the folder, which will show in the Finder slightly grayed out. You can drag this folder to the Open or Save dialogue box in any application, which will point that application to the contents of this folder.

From here you can open or save files, and the program will treat the folder as any other you can save files to.
Note that some applications, such as BareBones' TextWrangler, which are built for viewing and editing hidden directory contents, may have options in their Open and Save dialogue boxes that allow you to reveal hidden items. In this cases, these options will be far easier to use.

How to save to hidden directories in OS X

tags: How to save to hidden directories in OS X, ios x, computers, mac, ios

Read More

How to create a dynamically resizable disk image in OS X

Disk images in OS X are one mode of packaging files for distribution or storage on external media, and, since they mimic the behaviors of optical discs like DVDs, they are commonly used by developers to distribute downloadable installers for their applications.

While convenient for file distribution, you can also use disk images as containers to store various files on your system, or on a local network server, especially if you use their encryption routines to secure them with a password. By doing this, the image contents will only be accessible by you.

Disk Images can be created in Disk Utility, by clicking the "New Image" button in the Disk Utility toolbar. When this is done, you can set the image size and optional encryption options.

When done, the image will create and mount, allowing you to copy files to it; however, you might notice that by default the image size is the same as it was when you created it, so if you created an image that was 1GB in size, then the image file would be 1GB.

After setting the size (arrow), set the image type to "sparse" or "sparsebundle" with "no partition map," or set the image type to "compressed."

While this might seem logical, it may not be desired. You may have wanted the image to contain up to 1GB of data, but not always be 1GB on disk and instead start smaller and only grow with the size of items you place in it.Luckily this can be done, using one of two methods:

1. Sparse or sparsebundle image with no partition scheme
   Apple's "sparse" and "sparsebundle" image types are dynamically resizable images, and if you create one without a partition scheme then they will start at the size of the files you place in them, and grow as you add more files, up to the maximum size you set when creating the image. Simply select either "sparse" or "sparsebundle" from the "Image Format" menu when creating the image, and then choose "No Partition Map" from the "Partitions" menu.
2. Use compressed disk images
   Instead of choosing "sparse" or "sparsebundle" for the image type, choose one of the compressed options. This will not only make the image size grow with its contents, but could also potentially make it smaller than the contents you store on it, as they will be compressed. Keep in mind that compression is dependent on the type of file being compressed, so if you have a bunch of zip files or mpeg4 movies that are already highly compressed, then you might not see much benefit; however, if you have only text files, then you may see these become highly compressed.

Tags: How to create a dynamically resizable disk image in OS X, computer, Computers, Operating Systems, Encryption 

Read More

Computer Diagnostics

The diagnostics that are associated with computers can help to identify any problem or failure that computers show when they are having problems.  Diagnostics are used to test out the computer system, which includes both the BIOS and memory, software, and even the hardware that is attached to the computer.

The most common types of problems will occur when your computer is down to very low resources, which can either be a low amount of RAM, or a low disk space.  These conditions are very common, and generally result in your computer running very slow.  This can easily be fixed, all you have to do is defrag your hard drive, and get rid of some programs and files that you no longer use or need.

Almost all types of computer diagnostic software can find and fix just about any problem that you are having.  It normally starts off with a BIOS examination, and goes on from there.  PC diagnostics
software can determine a lot from the BIOS, from the common settings to those that have a major impact on both boot up and performance.

No matter what you do, you should never modify or tamper with the BIOS settings, as it can lead to serious problems.  If you do plan to modify or mess with your BIOS, you should always create a backup first, just in case something goes wrong.  The BIOS settings can be very tricky, although they are responsible for a lot to do with your computer.  If you have never been in the BIOS before, you really shouldn’t be modifying anything inside of it.

Depending on the diagnostics program that you are using, there will be several different features available.  Right now, two of the most popular are Norton Systemworks and PC Doctor.  Both of these programs offer full diagnostics software, good for fixing just about any software related computer program you can imagine.  

Once you run the program, you’ll be able to select the diagnostic test that you are planning to run.  Some offer you a full system scan, which will scan your entire computer and then display any problems that you having.  After displaying any problems, the software will normally give you an option to go ahead and fix it.  As long as the problem is nothing serious, the diagnostic software can generally fix it.

The more complicated problems, such as hardware failures or hard drive crashes, are a totally different story.  They will require a technician who is very experienced, that can rebuild the hardware.  Diagnostic software can report hardware problems to you, although most of the time it is unable to fix it.

There are other computer diagnostic software that you run after starting the computer or rebooting, that will check everything from BIOS.  These types are great, although the types such as Norton and PC Doctor are by far superior.  They offer far more features, including defragment, cache cleaner, and the option to delete your temporary Internet files.  These features are great to have, especially if you aren’t the technical type.

For more reasons than one, computer diagnostic software is the ideal way to find and prevent problems with your computer.  Norton Systemworks offers you Ghost as well, which is the perfect way to back up your data.  You can back up certain files, or just go ahead and back up your entire hard drive.  Systemworks and Ghost are very easy to use, even if you are completely new to computers.  For everything they offer you - computer diagnostic programs are the ideal way to prevent problems before they happen.

Read More

Best Small Laptop Computers

Best Small Laptop Computers

A tiny laptop has much more to offer than just a small profile. Current small laptop models are just as power packed as their regular sized counterparts. Scroll below to learn about some recent small laptops. 

 

 

 

Since its inception in 1975, the laptop has come a long way in defining size. A laptop, any model or size, is much smaller than a desktop. But in today's technology market, there at least 4 major classifications for a laptop, such as desktop replacement, heavy weights with multiple features. Then there's the ultra small tablets (iPad), and regular or normal sized laptops (screen size between 13-15 inches). Small laptop computers have multiple monikers, like ultraportables, netbooks, and subnotebooks. They all denote the same dimensions, weight less than 4.4 pounds, and their screen size is between 10-12 inches.

The following mini laptops are some recent models that bring out the best features and performance, with a small size.

Best Small Laptops

Apple MacBook Air ($999)
Dimensions:

Screen size: 11.6 inches
Weight: 2.38 lbs

Tech Specs:

Processor: Intel Core i5
Memory: 2/4GB
Storage: 64GB
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 3000
OS: Mac OS X Lion

Features:

Battery life: 5 hours
FaceTime web camera
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.0
1 Thunderbolt port, 2 USB 2.0 ports
1 MagSafe power port


Sony VAIO Y Series ($450)
Dimensions:

Screen size: 11.6 inches
Weight: 3.23 lbs

Tech Specs:

Processor: AMD Dual-Core
Graphics: MD Mobility Radeon HD
Storage: 320GB
Memory: 2GB
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium

Features:

Battery life: 6 hours
3 USB 2.0 ports, 1 HDMI port
802.11 b/g/n wireless
Gigabit Ethernet LAN port
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
1 SD slot


Toshiba Mini NB505-N508BL ($270)
Dimensions:

Screen size: 10.1 inches
Weight: 2.9 lbs

Tech Specs:

Processor: Intel Atom Processor
Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3150
Storage: 250GB
Memory: 1GB
OS: Windows 7 Starter

Features:

Battery life: 8 hours
3 USB 2.0 ports, 1 SD slot
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Ethernet LAN port


Samsung Series 9 ($1200)
Dimensions:

Screen size: 11.6 inches
Weight: 2.31 lbs

Tech Specs:

Processor: Intel Core i3 Processor
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 3000
Storage: 64GB
Memory: 2GB
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium

Features:

Battery life: 7 hours
2 USB ports, 1 HDMI port
802.11 b/g/n wireless
Bluetooth 3.0
Webcam with 1.3 MP camera
1 SD slot


Lenovo IdeaPad S205 ($430)
Dimensions:

Screen size: 11.6 inches
Weight: 3.26 lbs

Tech Specs:

Processor: AMD Dual-Core processor
Graphics: AMD Radeon HD 512 MB
Storage: 320/500/750GB
Memory: 4GB
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium

Features:

Battery life: 5 hours
3 USB 2.0 ports, 1 HDMI port
802.11 b/g/n wireless
LAN port
Webcam with 1.3 MP camera
6-in-1 card reader


Prices are approximate and vary according to location and offers available

Small laptop computers are prized in different functional areas. For corporate use, these laptops allow performance on the go, with a convenient size. Laptops are at their most tiresome in airports and other traveling terminals, where you need to carry them around and use them in uncomfortable situations. At that time, the size and weight of a small laptop is highly appreciated. Imagine sitting in an airplane with a 17 inch laptop! And college students prize ultraportables as a good replacement for books. But make sure that your insistence for small size doesn't mean compromise in features.

Read More