Computer network installation has become an essential prerequisite for any efficient modern-day business as it allows employees to truly work as a team by sharing information, accessing the same database and staying in touch constantly. For a computer network to give the best results, a lot of detailed planning and foresight is required before installation.

Firstly, an organisation needs to clearly define its requirements – how many people would use the network, how many would use it locally (within the office) and how many might require remote access (from a different location), how many computers and other devices (servers, printers, scanners) would be connected to the network, what are the needs of the various departments and who would be in charge of running/managing the network. It also helps if one can anticipate the direction the company would take in the near future so potential growth can be factored in during computer network installation.

The technology issues should also be ironed out in advance – hardware, software, servers, switches, back-up devices, cables and network operating systems. Make sure you have the required licenses to run the software on all your machines before installing a computer network. Alongside computer network installation should proceed the building of a dedicated technical support staff, either within your own organisation or outside consultants. Delegate responsibility clearly for network management. Before installing the network, you also need to choose the security mechanism to protect corporate data and keep viruses at bay.

The transition to a new or upgraded computer network can bring some teething problems. To minimise chances of confusion, the company might need to train its staff to make them familiar with the new system. Careful planning will to a large extent prevent crises like system downtime and network crashes.

If you are planning to install a computer network or upgrade and existing one, contact Viper System at sales@vipersystems.co.uk for help.

Computer hardware courses are an excellent way to learn how to manage the inevitable computer failures that you will encounter as you find yourself depending on your computer more and more everyday. While you do have the option of taking your computer to the service center it can cost you a lot of time and money. Your computer hardware course is invaluable for helping you understand the hardware requirements for your computer that will be enable you to jump to the rescue instead of trudging along to the repair shop.

It does not take an engineer or a technician to be successful in learning about computer hardware. If you are interested in engineering or technician positions however, a background in computer hardware can make you a far more valuable person in your field and can enhance your employability tremendously.

To troubleshoot your computer you can do very well with a simple computer hardware course. You can become your own specialist and forgo spending the money on an IT specialist.

The time invested in a computer hardware study program will pay off quickly when things go wrong. But, this is not the only reason taking a computer hardware course would be a good plan.

Not only will you be able to fix your computer, but you will have the knowledge to build a computer from scratch. The cost of computer parts is often far less expensive than buying a pre-made package. You will also be able to customize your computer so that it is perfectly designed for your needs.

By avoiding the cost of labor from the computer store you will have a far less expensive computer that is perfect for you. You will also no longer need to worry about taking your computer in for repairs as you will know just how to fix what goes wrong.

Computer knowledge is in high demand no matter what career you are involved in. With the information you learn in a computer hardware course you will be able to take on an IT position. Such positions are in high demand as a limited number of people have the knowledge to take on an IT role.

The time needed to take a computer hardware course is well worth the investment. Learning about software and programming can only make you even better with your computer goals. If you are limited in time, not to worry. Many courses are available online or on CD for you to do at home.

Take some time to discover exactly what will be covered in your course. The computer technology field is huge, so you will need to focus. You will never be able to learn everything about computer hardware in a single course. It takes a lifetime of study to learn, and with technology constantly changing you will need to continually work on keeping your knowledge up to date. A computer hardware course will bring you a chance to get ahead of the game and keep up with your own computer.

Louis Zhang, computerhardwarecourseit dot com

I can hear it now! You are letting the cat out of the bag. By explaining computer forensic reports, you are aiding and helping computer criminals to cover their tracks.

But, there is always another side to an argument. By releasing this information, it can help people help computer forensic experts catch the criminals. Besides, people who commit computer crimes are very good at what they do. I am not releasing anything here they may not already know.

With that out of the way, let’s dive in.

What makes up computer forensics reports? Where does the information come from? Who puts them together?

Let’s start with the Who.

Computer forensics reports are prepared by computer forensics investigators. They gather the necessary information, analyze them and then draft out the final computer forensics reports. As good as they are, computer criminals oftentimes leave behind clues which aid the investigators to track down the root cause of their crime.

Even when the files have been deleted from the specific location in the computer, the original data is not at all erased from the entire computer system. With certain techniques, tools, and skills that the investigators are equipped with, the analysis of the fraudulent act or crime can be made with such accuracy.

Where does the computer forensic report information come from?

There are four main areas where the investigators gather their evidence from. There are other areas which are looked into but the following are the most commonly looked areas.

1. The Saved Files:
These are easy. If you saved it, it’s in the computer. All the investigator needs to do is open them up to examine them. They don’t need anything special to view or examine them.

2. The Deleted Files:
When data is deleted, it is put in the trash bin. The computer forensic expert will look in the bin to see what is in it.

The tougher part is the deleted files that have also been deleted from the trash bin. These will require special software in order to restore them.

3. The Temporary Files:
These data are produced when one browses through the Internet, works on any document, and uses some other types of backup software and other installations and applications.

You can open some temporary files on the computer they reside on without any special software or tool. Others will require the use of special tool or software.

4. The Meta Data:
The Meta data gives you the details of a document or file. Among the details which appear include the date that such files had been created, modified, and the last time when it was accessed. You can even get information about the creator of the file.

What makes up computer forensics reports?

Computer forensic reports will be made of information from the above four sources. It will also include information gathered from e-mails, file transfers, web browsing, online accounts, charts, and internet searches. Unknown to some people is that their web searches can be retraced.

There you have it… the secret, but not so secret computer forensic reports. It is by no means comprehensive, but you get the idea.

Note: You are free to reprint or republish this article. The only condition is that the Resource Box should be included and the links are live links.

Computer forensics is a new and growing specialty that serves both the public and private sectors. IT forensics specialists are not only competent in software related matters, but in those relating to computer hardware issues as well. Computer forensics comes into play in both ethical and criminal issues, including intellectual property law, theft, and fraud. There was a time when those people committing computer crimes weren’t at risk from the law – now they are.

These forensics follows traditional principles for scientific investigation. Work in computer forensics is systematic, well recorded and documented, and acceptable within a court of law. The methodology of computer forensics follows several steps. The first is to identify sources of digital evidence. The second is to preserve that evidence from loss, change or corruption. The third step in the process is to analyze the evidence, and the fourth is to present the evidence within the context it is required.

A good forensic specialist can manage the computer system and the data it contains while protecting sensitive evidence. Computer forensics explores both the individual computer, and any relevant networks or server connections. Forensics allows for the discovery of obvious and hidden data, as well as allowing access to password protected, encrypted and otherwise secured data on a computer system. Forensics may also allow for the recovery of deleted files.

As a matter of fact a lot of modern IT forensics work involves recovering files that have been deliberately deleted from computers and cellphones. The drugs trade relies on cellphones to communicate but now they’re realizing that a good forensics team can retrieve information on every text message and phone call they’ve ever made.

You can think of these specialist forensic teams as like the ultimate data recovery specialists. No matter what lengths the guilty have gone to trying to hide the evidence of their crimes these guys can find it and use it against them in court. An example is the guy who set his laptop on fire but realized it was going to take forever to burn. So he threw the laptop into a river and figure that was enough.

It wasn’t. Police were able to recover the laptop and almost all the data from his hard drive. He was prosecuted for the crime in question and is now serving his sentence. The only safe way to protect your data against a computer forensics team is to set the computer on fire, smash it to bits with a sledgehammer, put it in a container and have it shot into the heart of our sun on a rocket. And even then you can’t be sure….

Industrial applications, the insurance industry, legal professionals, the courts and more rely on computer forensics for many functions, ranging from preventing the spread of illegal materials to avoiding corporate fraud. Computer forensics is a growing field, and one that will continue to provide evidence and insight to prevent growing criminal computer related activity.

Years ago, building your own computer was a virtually nonexistent option. Parts were hard to come by, and if you managed to find what you needed, chances were together the parts would cost more than simply buying a computer prebuilt. The good news is, building your own computer is now a viable option, and can often be the best one.

There are countless profound benefits to building a custom pc. One of the biggest is due to the fact that you get to choose the parts that go into it. This ensures that every part purchased and assembled is of the highest quality (or not so much if you are on a budget). Computer companies, such as Toshiba and Dell to name a few, often skimp on the parts inside the computer leaving you with a machine that is unreliable and overpriced. Choosing your own components also means the computer you assemble will have all the parts to meet your needs; no more and no less. Often, prebuilt computers may come with unnecessary accessories or components that you don’t really need but still have to pay for. Choosing your own parts allows you to be in control of what your computer can do. Another important and appealing benefit is that of cost.

A custom build pc can almost always be cheaper than a prebuilt computer if one chooses the components correctly. It is possible to build a computer for two thirds the price or better of a nearly identical machine you might find at a retail store. Building a computer is also a great option for gamers. It allows them to customize their computer to better suit the needs of the graphic-intensive and high-demanding games of today and tomorrow. With a little research, a gamer could build a lightning fast pc with dual, top of the line graphic cards for what would seem like dirt cheap compared to retail price. Finally, an often overlooked benefit of building a custom pc is the amount of knowledge and experience one could gain from doing so. Never having built a computer before, one could double their knowledge in a pc’s workings and have a very enjoyable time doing so.

There are many ways to obtain the parts needed to build a custom pc. One good option is to visit a local computer store. The biggest benefit of this method of obtaining parts is that the customer actually has the option to speak to an expert (hopefully) face to face. A second option would be to purchase parts from an online auction site, such as eBay. On these sites, it is possible to find components at very low prices, but one must be leery of the quality of product they are receiving. Also, many of these parts may have been previously used in another computer. It is strongly advised to buy computer parts new, as used products have a much higher tendency to break down and do not come with a warranty. The third and usually best option is to buy parts from an online retailer. Good online retailers carry the most up to date and newest products and offer them at lower prices than available at most any retail store, such as Best Buy. Many orders also qualify for free shipping and one almost never has to pay tax.

When one thinks of building a computer they often misconceive that it is a complicated and risky feat, when in fact it is not. It consists of simply purchasing and assembling the parts and installing the software. Here is a list of the basic components needed to build a computer;

- Processor (CPU)
- Motherboard
- Hard Drive
- RAM (Random Access Memory)
- Video (Graphics) Card
- Sound Card
- Optical (CD/DVD) Drive
- Case
- PSU (Power Supply Unit)
- Keyboard and Mouse

These parts can be bought individually, or in a bare bones kit; or a package containing all the compatible parts needed. A sound card and/or video card can even be avoided upon purchase of a motherboard with these components built in (on-board), but a discrete graphics card is highly recommended. Keep in mind that this is a very basic list and most would want to add a few more optional components to further customize their PC, but the above would build a working computer. Before going about building a PC, it is important to research carefully all that needs to be done. Also, make sure to research the different parts, their functions, and what specifications meet your needs before you buy. Verify that all the chosen parts are compatible and work well together.

A common misconception is that building a computer is not worth the time. Usually, people think that putting something as complicated as a pc together takes days, if not weeks. A custom built computer should take only a few hours to assemble for first-timers, and experienced computer builders can do it in less than an hour. As long as research is done beforehand, anyone building a computer should be able to do so in a very reasonable amount of time.

All said, building a custom pc is a great option for anybody, whether they need a simple, cheap computer for checking their email or whether they need a top-of-the-line high performance pc to handle the latest and greatest games. The benefits of doing so are endless, and the experience and knowledge gained is priceless.

This article will give you four quick tips on what you can do to make sure you’ve purchased the most inexpensive laptop while giving yourself peace of mind knowing that you are looking out for your best interest. Many people have to buy a laptop computer these days with a budget in mind. There are many different places where you can purchase a laptop and get a great deal but you must be careful to know where the good deals are.

The first key when looking for the cheapest laptop purchase is to use the Internet. The Internet is a great place to find suppliers of computers as well is to compare different computers to find which one will best work for you. The one key when looking into the Internet is remember that not all Internet websites are created equally. There are many scam artists out there so you need to be careful when buying.

The second key is that eBay is one of the strongest locations where you can buy a laptop computer. There are many different online auctions so you can bid and find one directly in your price range because there are so many sellers. There’s also a great deal of information on the seller so you can research to make sure that other people have been happy with this person. You should check to see that the seller has sold laptops for awhile and that the seller has good positive feedback. If a person’s feedback is below 95%, you may want to look for a different seller to do business with. Make sure to ask questions. You are able to send messages to the seller to make sure that the laptop you want to purchase is in good shape.

The third key is to look at online classified ads for refurbished laptop computers. Make sure to get information about the specifications of the computer so that you can compare with other laptops that you may see on eBay. Once again, do not be afraid to ask questions to the sellers. Try to make sure that the sellers are reputable and see they have a website which you can take time to check out. This will allow you to become comfortable with the fact that the person is not a scam artist and is a real and reputable seller.

Finally, see if the computer which you are purchasing comes with any type of warranty. You want to give yourself protection to know that if anything does go wrong, you have a plan in place to take care of it. If you’re going to spend money (at least several hundred dollars), you do not want to be out that money if something happens within the first couple weeks of having a laptop. Refurbished laptops often will have a warranty with them if you are looking at a new one. Used computers may still have a warranty but it could be voided if the original seller gets rid of the item. You want to see what type of clauses are within the warranty to make sure that your covered if you buy that particular laptop.

Laptops are a great product to purchase and the Internet has helped create a market where you can buy them inexpensively. Take time in searching for the one you want to purchase and make sure that you are covered by talking with the seller as well is getting a warranty ahead of time.

The big boys in the computer industry want you to continue thinking the way you are. The major desktop computer manufacturers thrive on consumers lack of knowledge and old ideas about desktop computers and computer hardware to drive sales of new desktop computers.

It works in their favor to keep these myths alive, because their business depends on it. So what are they?

Myth 1: You need top of the line computer hardware

Maybe some years ago this might have been true with older computer hardware, but times have changed. When computers were much slower than they are now, the latest version of any computer hardware increased speeds noticeably and allowed new possibilities from your desktop computer.

Those increases from computer hardware no longer yield such a huge increase in performance. With the basic uses of the desktop computer set and been in place for a while now, speed increases no longer result in real world benefits for most desktop computer users.

What was great computer hardware last year is still good enough now.

Myth 2: Computer hardware is the domain of Geeks

When personal computing was coming into its own, you really did need to be a Geek to know what was happening. For those old enough to remember, imagine life without Windows and hacking away at the command line, as used to be the case. Some still do, but I wouldn’t want to do that again.

Desktop computers are such commonplace that the basics of computer hardware can be understood and researched with the minimum of hassle. The ball is on the consumers side of the court. You no longer need to be a geek, just a little knowledge that is now readily available.

Myth 3: A faster desktop computer will speed up the Internet

Possibly. If you are running 5-year-old computer hardware this might be the case. But the real reason for the increase in speed is usually not the computer.

Internet speed is related to your connection speed. If you have a dial up connection, it’s going to be quite slow. When you upgrade your desktop computer and they throw in a cable internet, or DSL package the improved speed is from the faster connection, not the computer. Both cable and DSL can offer more than 10 times the speed of a dial-up connection. The computer has little to do with it.

Myth 4: To speed your computer up, upgrade!

New computer hardware is a very obvious way to speed things up. Even I have gone for new parts purely for this reason.

But it’s definitely not the only way.

Various factors play into overall speed. On a purely physical level, upgrading memory is still a fantastic way to get things to move along a little faster. But apart from this the main things that slows things down on the programs and other stuff you have on the computer.

Over time, as more programs are put on and taken off and changed, things get left behind, and things get forgotten. When your computer starts, many things get loaded into memory and each one of those takes that little bit more of the computers resources. When you switch to a new program and don’t remove the old one, the older one will still use resources.

Myth 5: Big brands are the best

Big brands essentially piece together a computer. They pick and choose the pieces to make a computer package. They also choose some software, give a warranty and then sell it to you.

Dell computer company has become well known for its customer service. This is the best part about Dell computers. The downside is there are limited choices. They pick what goes into the computer, which are often quite expensive parts. They are motivated by the suppliers to put more recent parts into their computers, keeping the prices at the same level and maintaining the “to get more, pay more,” mentality.

You don’t have the power of these big guys, but you have something more. Choice.

Your pick of parts for your desktop computer will allow you to put together something completely tailored to your needs. Put the money where you need it most, into the computer hardware that makes the biggest difference to you, and in the end getting a desktop computer you will fall in love with, rather than despise.

Computers once used to be monstrous devices that could occupy the whole room. Today they have been converted into lightweight and portable systems. The laptop computer was something unthinkable when computers were first developed 60 years ago, however today it offers unbelievable technology in an incredibly small package.

The idea of a technically complete, portable computer was first envisaged in the 1970s. Even though the first laptop was designed a decade later, engineers at Xerox were trying out a prototype of portable computer called the Dynabook. This was meant to be a type of tablet computer that could function on external battery. Unfortunately, technology at that time was not developed enough to make this idea a reality.

In 1981, the first laptop computer Osborne 1 was introduced in the commercial market. The computer was equal to the size of a portable sewing machine, came with a tiny monitor and didn’t run on external battery. However, it transformed the business world, providing businessmen with the opportunity to carry their data long with them for the first time. Even though the computer never really thrived in the commercial market due to its bulky size and failure to run on battery, it is said to be a vanguard of technological developments to come.

The first true laptop, known as the Grid Compass, was introduced in 1982. It came with a flat display-screen that folded down on the keyboard and could run on a battery. However, the extremely high price and IBM incompatibility didn’t appeal to the commercial market. Epson HX-20 and the Compaq Portable were the two portable computers launched in 1983 that proved to be a bit more viable in the commercial market.

The year 1983 saw the introduction of one of the most renowned early laptops the Kyocera Kyotronic 85. The system featured a built-in modem and some Microsoft-designed programs. It was also possible to run this laptop on regular AA-sized batteries. The laptop’s handy portability and low price (starting from $300) made it a preferred choice of journalists and news reporters.

Several manufacturers had stormed the laptop market by 1987 and the competition amongst them was fierce. Laptops had rose to fame by that time and manufacturers were eager to meet the growing demands of the market by supplying faster, lighter and more viable machines.

The release of Windows 95 Operating System by Microsoft in the year 1995 was perhaps the most remarkable event in the history of laptop computers. This operating system served to standardize many aspects of laptop design and hence leading laptop producers quickly introduced models that conformed to the expected standard. As technology has advanced since 1995, the attractiveness and feasibility of laptops have increased tremendously. Nobody can predict how laptops will continue to progress in coming years as technology develops.

Computers are built to be efficient, reliable machines. There are times, however, that computers crash, and result in data loss and system instability. Your computer may hang, send error messages, or worse, no longer work at all. For computer users, troubleshooting problems is a very important skill. If you know how to fix a computer, you can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars in repair jobs, professional fees, and even going so far as to buy a new one. Here’s a quick guide to fixing common computer problems.

The Troubleshooting Sequence

Many computer users tend to think that the only way to fix a computer problem is to call tech support, or worse, to unplug the computer from its cables and start tinkering with the sensitive parts inside. When fixing your computer, think of yourself as a doctor; doctors will not immediately wheel a patient off to surgery for a simple cold. It’s very important for you to follow the proper troubleshooting sequence to avoid causing serious harm to your computer:

* Identify the problem. While almost all computer problems are caused by improper use, errors in software and hardware configurations may also cause computer problems. Malware, spyware, and viruses can also cause serious computer problems. List all the possible causes of your computer’s problem before attempting to resolve it.

* Resolve the problem. Every computer-related problem or error has at least one solution. Start with the simplest solutions first before attempting to perform complex ones, like making changes in the boot sequence or tinkering with hardware.

* Repeat. If your computer hangs or crashes for some reason, chances are that you have more problems in your computer than the problem you have already resolved. Use you operating system’s utilities, along with third-party diagnosis and computer repair software, to run a thorough check on the reliability and the stability of your computer.

Reboot

Most minor computer problems, like hang-ups and stalled programs, are easily repaired by restarting the computer. Reboots abort the processing sequence and start your computer working again with a relatively clean slate. While rebooting a computer is the only solution to an operating system that hangs, or a program that refuses to close properly, it does lead to problems like data loss and fragmented data on the hard drive. It can also cause actual physical damage to the hard drive and the computer’s cooling systems if you’re not careful.

There are two types of reboots that you should use in specific instances:

* Soft reboot. For almost all computers, the soft reboot sequence starts when you press together the “Ctrl,” “Alt,” and “Delete” keys. Soft reboots are recommended for computer crashes that need to be resolved quickly. A soft reboot also puts less physical stress on your computer’s moving parts.

* Hard reboot. For serious errors like Blue Screens of Death (BSOD), or if your computer does not respond to a soft reboot, you need to restart your computer through the “Restart” button. Sometimes, you may need to turn off the power switch, and turn it on to resolve the problem. A hard reboot puts added stress to your computer’s moving parts, but many problems can be solved by this solution. Make sure to run disk scanning and to defragment your hard drive to ensure the safety and integrity of your data.

Start With Software, Then Proceed to Hardware

Remember that disassembling your computer is always the last resort to a computer-related problem. Most software-related computer problems can be repaired with simple troubleshooting techniques at the software level first, and does not need to proceed to a hardware-level repair job:

* Update the software. Software-related computer problems are common especially after release, and programmers release a solution called a “patch” that resolves the particular problem. Update the particular program to resolve the reliability and stability issue.

* Configure programs. Sometimes a conflict between two or more programs can cause computer problems, or you may have programs are not adequately configured to fit the specifications of your computer. You may need to reinstall programs, or reconfigure them through the Control Panel or program utility tools.

* Uninstall unnecessary software. If you have unlicensed software or a load of programs you do not use, the stability of your computer is compromised. Schedule a disk cleanup and keep programs you use frequently, and to free up hard drive space and memory allocations.

* Reformat. If software updates do not solve the problem, you may need to start over with a clean slate. As long as the hard drive is not very old, you can always reformat it. Quick formats should not be performed on hard drives when you’re erasing all the data; instead, use a full format that erases and reconfigures the drive right down to the allocation tables. Make sure you have a backup of all data before reformatting your hard drive.

If you do need to tinker with hardware, be absolutely sure that the problem is hardware-related. You may have accidentally kicked the CPU to dislodge the RAM chips, or that the cooling system has failed and caused your system to overheat. Other than minor, user-serviceable repairs, all hardware repairs should only be performed by a qualified computer technician or specialist. When all else fails, you need to take your computer to a computer technician or call tech support.

Even the most advanced and expensive computers suffer from a few hang-ups every now and then. With these tips to help you repair and fix your own computer, only a few problems will ever bother you enough to get really frustrating.

Depending on the type of gaming you are using your computer for, the hard drive may be one of the most important components. This is especially the case if your games take up a lot of space with downloads, game saves, and extra components. It’s also important to consider your memory, since all of these components are also affected by this. Memory may be even more important than the hard drive.

The first thing to consider when purchasing a hard drive for your gaming PC is what type to get. The two main choices that we will consider are serial ATA and parallel ATA, or SATA and PATA. PATA drives are also called IDE drives. SATA drives are recommended simply because they are more advanced than IDE drives. However, they are also more expensive than IDE drives.

Some of the aspects of the SATA drive are beneficial to the individual installing them, and others will benefit you as a user. SATA drives have less pins and longer cables, as well as only one jumper. This will make the drive easier to connect and install within the computer. SATA drives are also faster than IDE drives, with SATA II drives transferring upwards of 300MB per second of data. IDE drives transfer anywhere from 5MB to 133MB per second.

It is really a personal choice as to how much hard drive space you will need. However, individuals who build their gaming PCs from scratch tend to go all out and get the top of the line in everything. If this is the case with your computer, you might consider getting a TB hard drive, especially if you pla n on using it. If you play several games at once and plan on downloading all of them onto your hard drive, you probably will want at least 500 GB of space.

Also consider what the recommended amount of space is needed for your games. If many of your games have some of the same recommendations for hard drive space, this will give you a general idea of how much you need. You should also think about whether you will be storing other things on your gaming PC, such as other software and media like music and pictures.