http://www.m2tech.comM2K Tech.com gives you free resources covering all aspects of computers, from hardware, operating systems, software, viruses, networking to just general usage tips.EnglishMicro2000Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:27:07 GMTFeedSpring - http://feedspring.com/Wed, 15 Aug 2007 19:28:04 GMThttp://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rsshttp://www.micro2000.co.uk/products/microscope/Unresponsive_Programs.htmlWhat do you do when the software programs seem 'unresponsive' or you have a PC that is 'freezing up'? While this can often be a Windows failure, there are times when the fault lies with the hardware - so where's the best place to start looking to establish which it is? Click on the following link for a guide to tracking down the 'culprit'!Wed, 15 Aug 2007 19:28:00 GMThttp://www.micro2000.co.uk/products/microscope/tech_sheet.htmAnswer: "Recently a client had a problem with a new graphics card they had purchased which seemed to be faulty, but thanks to using Micro 2000 we were able to not only resolve the problem and ensure the replacement card was fully operational, it also located a number of bad sectors, resolved the problem plus diagnosed a potential problem with the machine's memory. Both problems, if left undiagnosed, could have resulted in a serious loss of data at a later date." Find out just how many hardware components you can check for faults at any one time. Thu, 19 Jul 2007 12:39:20 GMThttp://www.eraserdisk.co.ukMost people are aware of the fact that before getting rid of a PC, whether it was for personal or professional use, they need to ensure that the data that is still stored on the hard drive is made inaccessible to others. However, what is not so generally known is the fact that, while there are many different options available on the market for the purpose of 'wiping data', there are different levels of 'erasure', some of which still leave the data vulnerable to exposure and at risk of being retrieved. EraserDisk has been designed to be used successfully in all types of environments, whether personal or professional, and completely eradicates any and all data on a hard drive. It does not just 'wipe' the drive clean, but it overwrites it several times so that anything that was on the disk is no longer 'recognizable' and consequently 'theft proof'! The only safe and secure disk drive is a sterilized drive, and EraserDisk provides simple but complete drive cleaning to the highest security standards. Fri, 06 Jul 2007 08:35:40 GMThttp://www.micro2000.co.uk/products/microscope/3_Steps.htmlAre you still going THROUGH the O/S to diagnose faults? Do you CROSS YOUR FINGERS hoping that the PC is 100% fixed? Isn't it time you found out just how easy it is to avoid all this and get straight to the route of the problem? Wed, 27 Jun 2007 19:19:43 GMThttp://www.micro2000.co.uk/products/remotescope/downloads.htmAnyone who runs a network knows that the day to day management of this can be very time consuming, so the ability to centralize and automate these functions could not only save you a lot of shoe leather, but also save the company a lot of money! We've just released the latest version of our network management software, RemoteScope V3, and you can test a full working version now! Wed, 23 May 2007 08:26:04 GMThttp://www.micro2000.co.uk/products/microscope/Rebuilding_the_MBR.htmlIf you've ever experienced a damaged or corrupted Master Boot Record (MBR), perhaps due to a virus, you will know that this can result in serious data loss - and that the ability to save and/or restore the MBR is vital. To see just how easy it is to protect against this click on the link.Wed, 16 May 2007 08:32:40 GMThttp://www.micro2000.co.uk/products/microscope/MemScope_Free_Memory_Tester.htmHow you tested your memory recently? Memory problems can manifest themselves in many ways - so, if a PC isn't running 100%, ruling this out first is sometimes a good place to start! But anyone who has used a DOS or O/S based memory tester knows that the results can be inaccurate because these testers do not communicate directly with the hardware itself, and based on this there are even certain areas that they cannot test at all. Fortunately MemScope - our FREE MEMORY TESTER - is completely operating system independent - so it gives you the most accurate results possible! Follow the link to download. And to give you a 'head start' we have posted a 'guide' to the various types of errors, with the most likely reason for each failure, on the following link; http://www.micro2000.co.uk/products/microscope/Memory_Tests.htmlThu, 10 May 2007 08:09:38 GMThttp://www.micro2000.co.uk/products/microscope/Creating_Batch_Tests_USB.htmlHow would you like to have an automated system that could track down intermittent faults on any PC? Having a utility that can run a repeating loop of tests is sometimes the only way to catch this type of problem, which by its nature will seldom perform on cue during a single run-through of a test. And with Microscope it couldn't be easier! Just put the floppy, CD or USB stick in the drive and hit 'GO'! For more info just click on the linkThu, 03 May 2007 08:21:33 GMThttp://www.micro2000.co.uk/products/microscope/Hardware_Component_Tests.htmPeople are often surprised at exactly how many of the hardware components can be tested by a diagnostic utility without having to open the box! Simply by slotting a CD or USB flash drive into the PC and pushing a few buttons you can find out what the problem is, without having to go looking yourself. Go to the following link to get an idea of the sorts of tests you run. Tue, 01 May 2007 08:05:09 GMThttp://www.micro2000.co.uk/products/microscope/osindependence.htmWhat would you do if you were in a foreign country and you did not speak the language and you needed to get from one place to another as quickly and as cost effectively as possible? Would you ask for directions from another tourist or would you ask someone native to that region? Well, Micro-Scope is the 'native' to the 'country' called 'hardware' - it speaks the same language and it understands all the ins and outs and 'local customs' that are specific to this area, and it doesn't even use a 'translator' to do this (ie. the resident operation system, such as Windows); so it acts as your 'guide' to the fastest and most economical route to troubleshooting problem PCs with ease. For examples of how this affects the various hardware problems click on the link. Fri, 13 Apr 2007 08:46:37 GMThttp://www.micro2000.co.uk/products/microscope/specs.htmDid you know that you only need one version of Microscope to troubleshoot a desktop, laptop or server using any of the above? And that you can choose between the following to trace down any hardware fault on these systems; Floppy, CD, USB Stick - so you won't even need to open up the box to find out what's wrong! All this flexibility for a low, one off cost!Wed, 04 Apr 2007 08:48:26 GMThttp://www.micro2000.co.uk/products/postprobe/all_about_postprobe.htmPOST Probe is the tool to quickly diagnose any IBM-compatible PC that will not boot up. It's a printed circuit card that plugs into any vacant bus slot on the computer's motherboard. It can be used with the ISA bus, EISA or PCI bus. The card monitors the voltages, bus signals, and the computer's POST, or Power-On-Self-Test, and shows the results with various LED and 7-segment displays. To see how to just how easy it is to troubleshoot 'dead' PCs click on the link.Wed, 04 Apr 2007 08:47:45 GMThttp://www.eraserdisk.co.uk/index.htmWhen you have to get rid of a hard drive, for whatever reason, and whether it's business or personal, do you have to 'cross your fingers' and hope that the data will not be accessed by others after the PC is no longer under your control; or are you 100% confident that the method you have used to sterilize the drive is enough? With EraserDisk, once the information is gone, there’s no way somebody can get it back! To find out how to ensure the safe disposal of hard drives for a very competitive, one off cost click on the link.Wed, 28 Mar 2007 10:14:13 GMThttp://www.micro2000.co.uk/products/microscope/Network_Card_Tests.htmlIf you have anything to do with networks chances are that you may have come across connectivity issues and of course there could be any number of causes - but how do you know if it's the network card which is faulty or something else? A good place to start is to test the card what shows up - and to get an idea of the types of errors that could be causing the problem then click on the link.Wed, 14 Mar 2007 11:43:44 GMThttp://www.micro2000.co.uk/products/microscope/MemScope_Free_Memory_Tester.htmSlow response times, a program that won't open, (or shuts down in the middle of an operation), 'grinding noises' and laborious loading; or even the PC crashing completely; we've all seen one or more of these 'glitches' at some time or other. Most people who work with computers have experienced 'performance' issues and these could be as a result of either the software, or the hardware, but in the case of the latter it can often be the 'memory' that is at fault. Memory issues can be deceptive as they don't necessary create problems that require immediate attention; but they can be pretty irritating nonetheless! Check your memory now with our free memory tester. Sun, 11 Mar 2007 20:53:20 GMThttp://www.micro2000.co.uk/products/microscope/Creating_Batch_Tests_USB.htmlProbably the most difficult troubleshooting to deal with are those annoying intermittent faults; those that may only happen now and then, but cause problems never the less, and need to be sorted out. So, the ability to run a repeating loop of tests is sometimes the only way to catch an this type of problem, which by its nature will seldom perform on cue during a single run-through of a test. Wed, 28 Feb 2007 09:44:59 GMThttp://www.micro2000.co.uk/products/microscope/Hardware_Component_Tests.htmPeople are often surprised at exactly how many of the hardware components can be tested by a diagnostic utility without having to open the box! Simply by slotting a CD or USB flash drive into the PC and pushing of a few buttons you can find out what the problem is, without having to go looking yourself. Follow the link to see just how many tests you can run!Thu, 22 Feb 2007 09:37:51 GMThttp://www.micro2000.co.uk/products/microscope/microscope-stick.htmHow do you like the idea of being able to pop a USB flash drive into a problem PC in order to diagnose what the problem is? Well, you can - with Microscope! Not only can it be used from a floppy or CD - but it is also available in a handy USB format too - so no matter what situation you're covered! For more information on this please follow the link.Wed, 14 Feb 2007 11:42:02 GMThttp://www.micro2000.co.uk/products/postprobe/How_to_Use_PostProbe.htmTroubleshooting a 'dead PC' can actually be done very quickly and easily - just by being able to 'read' the instructions executed by the BIOS - and so save a lot of guesswork, or the need to replace the PC completely. To see how to troubleshoot 'dead' PCs following the link. Wed, 07 Feb 2007 16:06:47 GMThttp://www.micro2000.co.uk/products/microscope/Fixed_Disk_Tests.htmlFixed disk faults can often result in the need to replace the drive, with the risk of losing data and a lot of extra work installing a new one. In other words, it's probably not something that you want to do unless it's really necessary!For some tips on tests that make it possible to avoid this problem go to. Thu, 01 Feb 2007 09:46:25 GMThttp://www.micro2000.co.uk/products/microscope/Debugging_Functions.htmlIn the world of PC maintenance and troubleshooting getting to the bottom of an error can be both frustrating and time consuming. Sometimes to isolate a malfunction it is useful to pinpoint and exercise a specific Interrupt, I/O address or memory address - thus having a way to allow direct triggering or interrogation of hardware.Thu, 18 Jan 2007 16:14:09 GMThttp://www.micro2000.co.uk/products/eraserdisk/eraserdisk.htmMost people these days are aware of the fact that before getting rid of an unwanted PC it is vital that all the data is that was stored on the hard drive is totally erased. While there are many different options available on the market for the purpose of 'wiping data', there are different levels of 'erasure', some of which still leave the data vulnerable to exposure and at risk of being retrieved. To find out how to completely eradicate any and all data on a hard drive go to the above link. Fri, 12 Jan 2007 12:39:30 GMThttp://www.micro2000.co.uk/products/microscope/Unresponsive_Programs.htmlCheck Event Viewer in Windows by right clicking on My Computer and selecting Manage. If you find the errors in Event Viewer description pointing to memory addresses or block execution errors, then the problem may be RAM Memory Wed, 20 Dec 2006 09:11:21 GMThttp://www.micro2000.co.uk/products/postprobe/How_to_Use_PostProbe.htmThe power light comes on, the fan can be heard and maybe some strange beeps from inside the case, but the screen is black as night - where do you start? The beeps may provide a clue, but every BIOS has its own set of beep codes, and you won't know what BIOS version you have until you take off the case. No matter which BIOS it is though, the number of beep codes will invariably be quite small compared to the number of things that could be wrong, so getting help from that quarter is somewhat a matter of luck. To find out how to troubleshoot 'dead' PCs click on the link.Fri, 15 Dec 2006 16:57:11 GMThttp://www.micro2000.co.uk/products/microscope/Memory_Tests.htmlMost of the time when Windows freezes up it’s the fault of Windows itself, sometimes though it’s not the software but the hardware, and in those cases the memory is almost always the culprit. Here is an overview on memory errors, giving you the most likely reason for each failure, so that you can quickly pin point a solution. Wed, 06 Dec 2006 09:13:57 GMThttp://www.m2ktech.com/techtips/techtips_deploying_printers.htmLast week, I received a call from a RemoteScope customer asking whether it was possible to deploy printers remotely in batch, like he could with applications and patches. In other words, could he add a printer to the list of installed printers on various Client systems around the network, without having to leave his office and without having to do them one at a time by remote control? I have a good idea how difficult it is to go around installing the printer drivers and adding network printers in a company that has more than 25 computers, so I decided to do some research to see if this could be done starting with our own network and a spare HP 1300 laser printer. Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:34:10 GMThttp://www.m2ktech.com/techtips/techtips_network_troubleshoot.htmWhen connecting a Windows workstation to a network, in addition to the network card and cable there are three basic software parameters to consider. These are: Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:33:38 GMThttp://www.m2ktech.com/techtips/techtip_vpn.htmToday’s tech tip is about VPNs. VPN stands for Virtual Private Network, which uses public lines, such as the Internet or public phone lines, to create a secure connection between computers, or between a remote computer and a local area network. Encryption, authentication and other security techniques are uses to create a ‘tunnel’ through which data can be transmitted without interception. Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:33:03 GMThttp://www.m2ktech.com/techtips/techtip_internet_voice.htmRemember back about 10 years ago when the Video Phone and Internet Phone were introduced to the commercial market? Perhaps you were one of those who tried it and found yourself disappointed. The audio seemed only to work well when set to simplex, which is like a 2-way radio where only one person can speak at a time, instead of full-duplex, which is more like a regular phone. Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, was a little ahead of its time with limits to the capabilities. For instance, not only could you talk only to people who had the same software, but they also had to be logged in or connected to the internet in order to call them. Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:32:36 GMThttp://www.m2ktech.com/techtips/techtip_google.htmWhat is Google SMS? I'm glad you asked. Google SMS, or Short Message Service, enables anyone with a cell phone or mobile device to get answers to specialized queries like residential and business listings, dictionary definitions, product pricing and more. The best part is you don't need one of those swanky new phones with web access. All you need is a cell phone or mobile device with text messaging or SMS capabilities. Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:32:07 GMThttp://www.m2ktech.com/techtips/techtips_memory_errors.htmMost of the time when Windows freezes up it’s the fault of Windows itself, sometimes though it’s not the software but the hardware, and in those cases the memory is almost always the culprit. Fortunately, the Micro-Scope diagnostic software is an excellent tool to figure out which is which. To use Micro-Scope to its best advantage, it helps to understand not only the various Micro-Scope tests, but also the different types of memory error. There is a lot to say on the topic, so this week we will cover memory errors and some data about memory testing in general, and next week we will go over each of the memory tests available in Micro-Scope. Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:31:24 GMThttp://www.m2ktech.com/techtips/Data_Recovery_Erasure__Viruses.htmHave you ever needed to recover data, or erase data for security purposes, or deal with virus damage to a hard drive? Most technicians know of software that with a push of the button will automatically recover data. There are also various 'data erasure' tools available that will erase data to certain levels, and virus damage can be resolved by reformatting and reinstalling all the software.However, some technicians are not aware of any solution to handle all the above, and do it with complete safety and with certainty in the results. Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:30:41 GMThttp://www.m2ktech.com/techtips/techtip_old_hardware.htmHanging onto old computer hardware can become a habit, stemming either from laziness (that would be me) or from the misguided conception that it's going to cost a lot of money to replace it. The truth is, it's very easy these days to keep your hardware current, and greatly beneficial. Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:30:02 GMThttp://www.m2ktech.com/techtips/techtips_Local_vs_Network_Diagnostics.htmObviously anyone who maintains PCs, whether local or on a network, is bound to be familiar with the demands of getting the offending machine back up and running as quickly as possible! Most have experienced the frustration of trying to pin point the problem, which could even boil down to being simply a faulty component. Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:29:33 GMThttp://www.m2ktech.com/techtips/techtips_software_or_hardware.htmWhen I first read an article called "Look Don't Listen", I thought that it was too obvious, and just basic common sense, that everyone knows. However, when I put it into practice, I found that it is a real skill which has to be learned and applied. Observing what is really there, observing what is obvious and not taking anything for granted or making any assumptions, will save you time and can prevent costly errors. If you are an IT Administrator you might have experienced what I mean, while trying to help one of your users. Tue, 28 Nov 2006 17:28:53 GMT