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	<title>Computer Repair, Service &#38; Support by Tech Helpline &#187; admin</title>
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		<title>Which E-Book Reader is Right For You</title>
		<link>http://www.techhelpline.com/which-e-book-reader-is-right-for-you/</link>
		<comments>http://www.techhelpline.com/which-e-book-reader-is-right-for-you/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 29 Mar 2011 21:14:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Product Recommendations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Technology Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Repair]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer support]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Helpdesk Outsourcing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online technical support]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Technical Support]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Technology Support]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.techhelpline.com/?p=747</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[E-book Readers An e-book (electronic book) is a text and image based publication in digital form that can be read using a hand held device called an e-book reader. There are several advantages to using this method over traditional print media. 1. There are over 2 million free books available for download, including all fiction [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.techhelpline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/photo-et-copy.gif"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-751" title="photo-et copy" src="http://www.techhelpline.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/photo-et-copy.gif" alt="" width="210" height="147" /></a></p>
<p id="text-placeholder"><strong>E-book Readers </strong><br />
An e-book (electronic book) is a text and image based publication in digital form that can be read using a hand held device called an e-book reader. There are several advantages to using this method over traditional print media.<br />
1. There are over 2 million free books available for download, including all fiction from before the year 1900.<br />
2. E-book websites can include the ability to translate books into many different languages.<br />
3. E-books are generally cheaper to purchase compared to other traditional media.<br />
4. An e-book can be purchased, borrowed, downloaded and used immediately.</p>
<p>The e-book reader market is highly saturated, giving consumers many options. There are some e-book features to consider before purchasing a model.</p>
<p><strong>Screen</strong><br />
While there are multiple different screen variations, the two most popular are e-ink and LCD. The LCD screens will illuminate your text making it ideal for reading in low light conditions. The e-ink screen, however, will offer a more natural look that mimics how a paperback might read. The screen size can vary from 5” to 10”. Note: the bigger the screen, the heavier the device. Some of the 10” e-book readers can be quite cumbersome to work with and can fatigue you quickly because of their associated weight.</p>
<p><strong>Capacity</strong><br />
Capacity is the amount of storage space on the hard drive within the device. Some e-book readers offer the ability to expand the storage through the use of a MICROSD card. Be sure to check the initial storage as well as the ability to expand onboard storage, especially if you are an avid reader.</p>
<p><strong>Additional Features and Compatibility</strong><br />
The varieties of e-book readers come from their additional features and compatibility with a variety of e-book formats. The most common additional features are 802.11b/g/3g connectivity, online newspaper subscriptions, integrated dictionary, touch screen, text-to-speech and web browsing. Compatibility is also important to consider when deciding on a reader. Some readers will only read proprietary formats associated with the manufacturer&#8217;s distributor and library. Make sure to check if your reader will work with your e-book library.</p>
<p><strong>Price</strong><br />
Price is most often the deciding factor for most e-book reader purchases. There are several entry level e-book readers (e.g., Kindle, The Nook) starting at or around $139.00 USD. You will most often get the best price by purchasing your e-book online. If you have a local computer store nearby, you may want to visit it to “get a feel” for the device before purchasing it online.</p>
<p>Remember to contact Tech Helpline for your computer support needs. Form Individual Memberships, please <a href="http://www.techhelpline.com/individuals/" target="_self">click here</a>.</p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></strong></p>
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		<title>Routine Maintenance Tips for Your PC</title>
		<link>http://www.techhelpline.com/routine-maintenance-tips-for-your-pc/</link>
		<comments>http://www.techhelpline.com/routine-maintenance-tips-for-your-pc/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 22 Feb 2011 22:15:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Computer Repair]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Technology Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Virus & Spyware]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[antivirus software]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tech support]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Windows]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.techhelpline.com/?p=740</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tech Helpline often receives calls requesting help to speed up users' computers. Below you will find many helpful tips for helping you keep your PC computer well maintained so that it can run as quickly as the day you unboxed it. 
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Our computers are like automobiles. If you keep them maintained, they will run smoothly for many years. Too often many things bog them down, causing them to run less efficiently. Tech Helpline often receives calls requesting help to speed up users&#8217; computers. Below you will find many helpful tips for helping you keep your PC computer well maintained so that it can run as quickly as the day you unboxed it. </p>
<p><strong>System Tray Icons</strong><br />
On the lower right-hand corner of your Windows PC&#8217;s display, you will see many icons related to programs running in the background. This is called the system tray. You may identify these programs by hovering over the icons. What you will usually see is the volume control, the current time, your security software or antivirus software, and any messengers (Yahoo!, Windows Live) you may be using or have installed.</p>
<p>All of these programs are prime examples of items which may be holding you back from a faster computing experience. Your Excel worksheets may take longer to open because you are running &#8220;Skype Messenger&#8221; in the background when you start the PC up. Your e-mail may take a while to load in Outlook because &#8220;Kodak Easy Share&#8221; has set itself to always be loaded in the system tray. These and many others are examples of programs you may uninstall or configure to not load when you start up. To configure them, right click on the icons and look for any Options or Preferences you may access to find where to uncheck this option.</p>
<p><strong>Internet Explorer Toolbars</strong><br />
The most commonly used web browser, Internet Explorer, can pick up a lot of clutter over time which can severely hamper its performance. The culprit, usually, is a toolbar for &#8220;Google&#8221;, &#8220;Yahoo&#8221;, or &#8220;MyWebSearch&#8221;, which loads each and every time you start the website browser to access something on the Internet. It is highly recommended that these be uninstalled, if not used, to increase the computer&#8217;s efficiency. Internet Explorer 8 offers an &#8220;X&#8221; on the left side of each toolbar which can assist in removing the toolbar&#8217;s presence.</p>
<p><strong>The Little Things</strong><br />
There are a few other things to consider to ensure your computer has optimal speed. Virus Scans scheduled by your security software and computer backups run by your external hard drive or off-site backup software should be managed to run when you are not using the computer. If your computer is a laptop, many times it will run fastest if connected to a wall outlet for power, as factory settings for most laptops will cause them to implement power-saving features, slowing down computer performance.</p>
<p>And finally, avoid running too many programs at the same time. Having too many programs and processes open on your computer will slow it down.</p>
<p>Following these considerations will save you from the frustration of having to wait on your computer to get further work done. Of course, if you have any questions, call Tech Helpline to speak to one of our knowledgeable computer repair tech support analysts. We would gladly assist you with any of the steps mentioned above.</p>
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		<title>Microsoft Office 2010 Review</title>
		<link>http://www.techhelpline.com/microsoft-office-2010-review/</link>
		<comments>http://www.techhelpline.com/microsoft-office-2010-review/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:46:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.techhelpline.com/?p=716</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Every few years, Microsoft releases an overhaul of its Office product suite, and this year Office 2010 was released. With this product, Microsoft also released web Office access to compliment the suite in light of products such as OpenOffice.org and Google Docs. What is new? Each product in the Office suite now carries the Ribbon [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Every few years, Microsoft releases an overhaul of its Office product suite, and this year Office 2010 was released. With this product, Microsoft also released web Office access to compliment the suite in light of products such as OpenOffice.org and Google Docs.</p>
<p><strong>What is new? </strong><br />
Each product in the Office suite now carries the Ribbon interface, first introduced in Office 2007. This interface, often dreaded by many at first, is actually a very refreshing feature as it puts the tools you use most right at your fingertips.</p>
<p>The next major change is the removal of the windows “Pearl” from the upper left-hand corner and the return of the “File” menu, which is an entire dialogue screen in each program. The “Backstage View”, as it’s called, has a print preview and many save and print options for the user to take advantage of.</p>
<p>Microsoft Word has received a security update in Office 2010 in its “Protected View”. The protected view prevents Word from accessing macros in the document or ‘active x’ scripts which can run and wreck havoc on a computer.</p>
<p>PowerPoint now receives a broadcast feature, which allows browser streaming of presentations to anyone in your office or even others over the Internet. This feature requires a SharePoint server in an office environment, or, if used on the Internet, a Windows Live! account. The broadcasting does not include sound or video playback, but it is great for voice conferencing with a program such as Skype.</p>
<p>Microsoft’s note-taking champion, OneNote, is now included in every single version of Office, making it a great reason to upgrade if you love the tool. The tool allows you to take, organize, and share notes from meetings while maintaining the freedom to brainstorm and alter almost any aspect of your notes dynamically.</p>
<p>The Flagship E-mail program that everyone is most concerned about upgrading to is Microsoft’s Outlook 2010, which as mentioned earlier, receives Office 2007’s Ribbon interface. The most prominent feature, important to those with busy schedules, is the ‘Calendar Preview’, which shows you a preview of your calendar any time someone sends you a meeting request. In enterprise environments that support Microsoft Exchange E-mail accounts, the users may now enjoy the use of voicemail in their accounts. Something to make certain to take note of is the inclusion of threaded conversations. This is when an e-mail discussion,  with the same subject line, falls into one e-mail ‘thread’ and can be expanded to show all the e-mails within it. This makes it extremely easy to manage your e-mails by topic and content.</p>
<p>Finally, the biggest change to the Microsoft Office suite is not a purchased part of the suite at all, but Microsoft’s choice to include complimentary, web-based office document creation and editing tools right in your web browser. If you have a Windows Live! Account, you can even save a document in Office 2010 and share it with someone over the Internet.</p>
<p><strong>Office 2010 Editions</strong><br />
Microsoft Office 2010 comes in three editions: Home and Student, Home and Business, and Professional. All of the editions come with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, as well as OneNote. The Home and Business edition adds Microsoft Outlook, and the Professional edition adds Microsoft Access and Microsoft Publisher.<br />
<strong><br />
Final Thoughts</strong><br />
If you don’t already have a Windows Live! account, now may be the time to look into acquiring one to test out the complimentary Office document tools Microsoft has released online. The Office 2010 60-day trial is available through <a title="Microsoft’s website" href="http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/">Microsoft’s website</a> and is a wonderful way to test the product before investing in the suite. Office 2010 is available at most software retailers, and there are many deals at popular web stores such as Amazon.com.</p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>About Tech Helpline<br />
</strong>The Tech Helpline goal is to provide superior technology support services to all. We have been in operation for ten years, and our talented, US-based analysts share a passion for technology and are here to help you with your technology questions.</span></strong></p>
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		<title>iPad Review for the Real Estate Professional</title>
		<link>http://www.techhelpline.com/ipad-review/</link>
		<comments>http://www.techhelpline.com/ipad-review/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 21 Jul 2010 20:17:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Product Recommendations]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.techhelpline.com/?p=707</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Since Apple’s announcement in late January, the new iPad has gained a lot of attention in the REALTOR® world as a device which could potentially be used for signings, filling forms, and checking email on the road. This is a device we receive questions on almost daily from REALTORS®. We’ve tested and explored the possibilities [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://www.techhelpline.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Ipdadimage_border-copy.gif"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-711" title="ipad image" src="http://www.techhelpline.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Ipdadimage_border-copy.gif" alt="" width="150" height="190" /></a>Since Apple’s announcement in late January, the new iPad has gained a lot of attention in the REALTOR® world as a device which could potentially be used for signings, filling forms, and checking email on the road. This is a device we receive questions on almost daily from REALTORS®. We’ve tested and explored the possibilities of this great, new beautiful hardware and have come up with some conclusions that will help you with your purchasing decisions.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #3366ff;">What is the iPad?</span></strong><br />
But what is the iPad, exactly? According to Apple, the iPad is a “new class of device between a Smartphone and a laptop”. What does this mean, exactly? Well, the iPad runs the same graphical interface as the iPhone, but does not make phone calls. This means applications compatible to the iPhone would be very close to working as well on the iPad. This is a wonderful device for web-browsing, watching movies, showing property photos uploaded with iTunes, reading magazines, and looking at e-books using Apple’s custom software.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #3366ff;">Purchase options</span></strong><br />
One thing to consider is that the iPad will not be your only device. The iPad supplements your other devices and works around your needs. As such, the iPad comes with many purchase options.</p>
<p>The iPad comes in two styles; “Wi-Fi” and “Wi-Fi + 3G”. The difference being with “Wi-Fi” you can access the company’s wireless internet, and with “3G” you can purchase a data plan with AT&amp;T and access the Internet anywhere, making it easy to use “Google Street View” to show the neighborhood of a property. The “Wi-Fi” and “Wi-Fi + 3G” options each come in three packages; 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB. The wonderful part is, being a satellite device, you are asked to sync your iPad with a PC or Mac upon turning it on, allowing you to manage and backup all your information at your convenience.</p>
<p><span style="color: #3366ff;"><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Functionality</span></strong></span><br />
The iPad has many capabilities, but it has some incapabilities we&#8217;d like to point out for you. The iPad cannot use Adobe Flash, which is a web technology used to view many integrated technologies on websites. Youtube is supported, but this is because Youtube is not Adobe Flash-based as it was in its infancy. The iPad is also incapable of printing on it’s own. Another very important functionality concern is the iPad’s lack of support for Adobe Reader/Acrobat. How does this affect you? Digital contracts and forms are created for Adobe Reader. Not having the ability to run Adobe Reader on the iPad means you cannot fill out these forms. The iPad also does not have a camera, which means you will have to use iTunes to transfer pictures over by syncing it to a PC or Mac. Some MLS providers have also informed us that the iPad’s functionality does not support their websites. We recommend that you contact your MLS before purchasing the device.</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #3366ff;">What fits your need?</span></strong><br />
There are many devices which have a niche. Smartphones are one. With a Smartphone you can ‘Google’ anything, manage a calendar with tasks, send email, and make phone calls. The iPad does all of this except make phone calls. In essence toward this idea, the iPhone is best for these tasks, with the iTouch device at a close second for being the same as the iPhone without the phone capabilities.</p>
<p>The laptop is another niche item. You can create documents, manage office spreadsheets, create forms, and print out documents. Because of this, the iPad fits as an expansion of your work environment. It is, itself, not a laptop, so it is to be treated as a device which you can use to manage your photos, browse websites, or use one of the many “App” applications which can be purchased from Apple’s “App store” web storefront.</p>
<p>Before purchasing an iPad, every REALTOR® needs to realize that he or she must find the need and niche for which device fits within his or her work environment. The device is great for taking notes, surfing the web, viewing videos on Youtube, or showing photographs of properties to potential buyers. The device is a supplement to tools we already have. The consideration is finding how it fits your needs.</p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>About Tech Helpline<br />
</strong>The Tech Helpline goal is to provide superior technology support services to all. We have been in operation for ten years, and our talented, US-based analysts share a passion for technology and are here to help you with your technology questions.</span></strong></p>
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		<title>Computer Performing Slowly?</title>
		<link>http://www.techhelpline.com/computer-performance/</link>
		<comments>http://www.techhelpline.com/computer-performance/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:32:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Technology Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bad sectors]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Repair]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer support]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[disk fragmentation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[slow computer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.techhelpline.com/?p=701</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Do you find your computer performing sluggishly? It could be a number of things causing slow performance, such as lack of disk space, disk fragmentation, the development of bad sectors, and so on. Use your computer’s built-in tools to fix such areas and optimize its performance. Clear Disk Space A great way to clear up [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p id="text-placeholder"><a href="http://www.techhelpline.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Helpbutton-copy1.gif"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-700" title="Helpbutton copy" src="http://www.techhelpline.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Helpbutton-copy1.gif" alt="" width="202" height="164" /></a>Do you find your computer performing sluggishly? It could be a number of things causing slow performance, such as lack of disk space, disk fragmentation, the development of bad sectors, and so on. Use your computer’s built-in tools to fix such areas and optimize its performance.</p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Clear Disk Space </span><br />
A great way to clear up disk space on your hard drive is by using the Disk Cleanup tool. The tool allows you to choose which files you want to delete, such as:</p>
<ul>
<li>Temporary Internet files</li>
<li>Downloaded program files (such as Microsoft ActiveX controls and Java applets)</li>
<li>The Recycle Bin</li>
<li>Windows temporary files</li>
<li>Optional Windows components you don&#8217;t use</li>
<li>Installed programs that you no longer use</li>
</ul>
<p id="text-placeholder">To use the Disk Cleanup Tool, simply click Start, select All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup. In the Disk Cleanup box, select each of the files you want to delete. It is safe to delete all items in the list, but read the description of each file type before doing so to double check. The process only takes a few moments to remove the files and replace disk space.</p>
<p id="text-placeholder">
The process is the same for XP, Vista and Windows 7, but in Vista and Windows 7 you can simply type “disk cleanup” in the search bar to pull it up faster.</p>
<p id="text-placeholder">
<p id="text-placeholder"><span style="font-size: medium;">Disk Defrag</span><br />
Another easy way to improve performance is to do a disk defragmentation.  A disk fragment happens when the data of a file is spread across several sectors of the disk, which requires your computer to search longer to piece the data together. By performing a disk defragmentation, your computer will rearrange the files on the disk so that they are stored closer together – thus, speeding up your access to the data.</p>
<p>To complete a disk defragmentation, click Start, select All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and then click Disk Defragmenter. In the box that opens, click on the drives you want to defragment, and then click on the Analyze button. The Analyze option will let you know whether or not you should defragment the selected drive.</p>
<p id="text-placeholder">
Once complete, Disk Defragmenter will display the results. You can see detailed information about the defrag by clicking on View Report.</p>
<p id="text-placeholder">
<p id="text-placeholder"><span style="font-size: medium;">Fix Disk Errors</span><br />
Find and fix disk errors by using the Error Checking utility. Your computer can obtain bad sectors, which basically slows down its performance. One of the main attributes of a bad sector is that it makes file saving difficult, if not impossible. The Error Checking utility can scan your computer for bad sectors and file system errors, and can determine if you have files or folders out of place.</p>
<p>Microsoft recommends running this once a week to prevent data loss (for people who use their computers daily).</p>
<p>Before you run this program, be sure to close all open files. Click Start, and then My Computer. In the My Computer window, right-click on the hard disk you want to search for bad sectors, and then click Properties.  In the Properties box, click on the Tools tab, and click on the Check Now button.</p>
<p>In the Check Disk box that opens, you’ll want to select the Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors check box, and then click Start.  (This is called Error-Checking in Windows 7). If any bad sectors are found, choose to fix them.</p>
<p>We hope this information has been helpful. And remember, if you have any computer repair or computer support questions, call your Tech Helpline experts!</p>
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		<title>In need of a printer fix?</title>
		<link>http://www.techhelpline.com/fix-printer-problems/</link>
		<comments>http://www.techhelpline.com/fix-printer-problems/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 11 Jan 2010 20:32:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Technology Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[print job error]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[printer issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[printer problem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[printer repair tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Technology Support]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.techhelpline.com/?p=637</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Ever had a printer problem? That&#8217;s like asking if you&#8217;ve ever had a bad day. Although we often love what printers produce, let&#8217;s face it, we have all dealt with their temperamental side. While every printer brand and model will differ slightly in their capabilities, there are some common printer repair tips that can be [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Ever had a printer problem? That&#8217;s like asking if you&#8217;ve ever had a bad day. Although we often love what printers produce, let&#8217;s face it, we have all dealt with their temperamental side.</p>
<p>While every printer brand and model will differ slightly in their capabilities, there are some common printer repair tips that can be applied across the board. We&#8217;ve compiled a list of common printer issues and have provided steps on how to resolve them.</p>
<p><strong>Toner</strong><br />
If your documents are not printing properly (i.e., blank pages, smudges, horizontal or vertical lines, or barely visible ink), it&#8217;s probably a problem with the toner or toner cartridge. Try cleaning the printer with a lint-free cloth or compressed air. You may want to purchase a cleaning kit to keep handy, which would include items to clean the printer regularly. After cleaning it, print a test page (click Start &gt; Control Panel &gt; Printer and Faxes &gt; right click Properties &gt; Print Test Page).</p>
<p>If the problem still remains, try installing a new toner cartridge. Print another test page to see if that corrects the issue. If you still have problems after adding a new toner cartridge, check the printer&#8217;s display window to see if it provides any error messages. If so, you may need to check your owner&#8217;s manual for further instructions.</p>
<p><strong>Power and PC Connection</strong><br />
While this sounds very simple, many times it can be the culprit of a non responsive printer. Ensure the printer&#8217;s main power cord is plugged into a functioning outlet or power strip. If it connects to a power strip, make sure the light is switched on. Also, check to see if the printer is turned on, especially if your error happens in the morning. Someone could have turned it off the previous evening.  </p>
<p>The problem could also be a bad connection to your computer. Trace the cable from the back of the printer to the back of your computer to make sure it hasn&#8217;t come loose.  </p>
<p><strong>Print Queue</strong><br />
An issue that often happens regardless of the manufacturer is that the print job errors out and gets stuck in the printer queue. The printer queue can be located on the taskbar at the bottom of your screen, and it shows you all current print jobs. By hovering the cursor over the image, you can tell if you have any pending print jobs. If the print job is not printing, try to remove it from the print queue. Look for the printer icon in your taskbar, right click on it to open all active printers and faxes, and highlight the print job to cancel. If it doesn&#8217;t allow you to cancel the print job, browse to the following location and delete all files located in this folder: (C:\WINDOWS\system32\spool\PRINTERS).</p>
<p>Usually there are two files for every one print job that is stuck in the queue. Sometimes a restart of the computer is necessary after deleting the files.  </p>
<p><strong>Drivers</strong><br />
Another common problem is printer drivers. Drivers are simply software created especially for your printer to function with your computer. It is very important that you have the appropriate drivers for your particular printer manufacturer and model. The easiest way to find the drivers is by going to the manufacturer&#8217;s website, where you can download updated drivers at no charge.   </p>
<p>Before downloading any new drivers, check to see if you are running a 32-bit or 64-bit machine.  The reason for this is because drivers are created for each, and if you install a 64-bit driver on a 32-bit machine you may encounter problems. <a href="http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827218">Go here</a> to find out if you&#8217;re running a 32-bit or 64-bit.</p>
<p>If you still have trouble after updating your drivers, it might be a problem with the printer software.  Sometimes the information becomes corrupted or deleted. In this case, you can try reinstalling the software that came with the printer when you purchased it.</p>
<p><strong>Multi Function Printers </strong><br />
Multi function printers often include printing, faxing, copying and scanning capabilities all in one. While they can be great tools, they can also cause much stress when not working properly. The reason they can be so troublesome is because you have to determine which part of the product is not working. You should follow the same approach as we mentioned earlier, checking the power supply, toner, cleanliness of the machine, and making sure you have updated drivers. If none of these items seem to be the problem, check the manufacturer&#8217;s website. If the problem is a known issue, they will have troubleshooting tips on their website.</p>
<p>A good tip to keep in mind when using a multi function printer is to make sure you are using the appropriate mode for your activities. For example, if you frequently fax signed documents to clients or financial institutions, you&#8217;ll notice that the quality of the document lessens the more times you fax it. But there&#8217;s another option &#8211; if you have a multi function machine, use the scanner option to save your signed document as a PDF file. Then you have an electronic copy that can be e-mailed, faxed or printed with the same high quality as the original document.  </p>
<p>We hope you&#8217;ve found some of this information helpful. And remember, if you need computer or printer advice call Tech Helpline. Our tech support analysts are here to help.</p>
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		<title>Windows 7 Review: Want to upgrade?</title>
		<link>http://www.techhelpline.com/windows-7-review-want-to-upgrade/</link>
		<comments>http://www.techhelpline.com/windows-7-review-want-to-upgrade/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:27:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Product Recommendations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Technology Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Repair]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Microsoft]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Remote Support]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tech support]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vista]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Windows 7]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Windows 7 review]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Windows 7 upgrade]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.techhelpline.com/?p=613</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Introducing Windows 7 You&#8217;ve probably heard about Microsoft&#8217;s newest operating system, Windows 7. It&#8217;s the first new release since Vista in 2006. If you were one of the many unsatisfied Vista users, then you may consider making a switch to Windows 7. We&#8217;re not advocating one operating system over the other; however, we do want [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Introducing Windows 7</strong><br />
You&#8217;ve probably heard about Microsoft&#8217;s newest operating system, Windows 7. It&#8217;s the first new release since Vista in 2006. If you were one of the many unsatisfied Vista users, then you may consider making a switch to Windows 7. We&#8217;re not advocating one operating system over the other; however, we do want to provide you with information so that you can make your own decision.</p>
<p><strong>What&#8217;s new?</strong><br />
There are plenty of reviews about the new operating system, and they all share an underlying theme. While Vista was not the XP successor users were hoping for, Windows 7 has real promise of filling the gap. With its revamped user interface, yet low-key, minimalist approach, it offers a much altered experience to that of Vista.  </p>
<p>Enjoy new user interface enhancements like the reorganized Taskbar, which gives the Mac OS X dock a run for its money. Experience features like Jump Lists that keep the most recent things you&#8217;ve used close by for fast access; or the Pin feature which lets you &#8220;pin&#8221; programs or files to your Taskbar or Jump Lists. </p>
<p>Keep your desktop organized with Aero Peek, a new management tool that provides thumbnails of all open windows. Scroll over thumbnails to get a peek of the full view window. Or use the desktop peek feature to view your desktop by making all windows transparent with a simple click of the mouse. This might be one to get used to because Windows 7 has omitted the Sidebar, the portion of the screen that Vista reserved for gadgets. Now you&#8217;ll find your gadgets such as your calendar, pictures, weather or games directly on the desktop.</p>
<p>A few other changes worth mentioning are enhanced security with less annoying UAC (User Access Controls), easier network sharing with HomeGroup, and XP Mode for programs that require a PC running XP. </p>
<p><strong>Which edition is right for you?<br />
</strong>Windows 7 comes with six different editions to choose from &#8211; Starter, Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate, OEM, and Enterprise. However, the three editions that will be most marketed are Home Premium, Professional and Ultimate.</p>
<p>For most users, Professional will be the appropriate choice. While Home Premium has all the cool user interface enhancements and updated Windows Media Center, it lacks the tools needed for working in XP mode, backing up to a network, and joining a network domain &#8211; all of which are activities many professionals may require. For an additional $20 you can get the Ultimate edition that includes BitLocker, a security enhancement that encrypts all computer drives, including USB flash drives and portable hard drives to protect your data and passwords.</p>
<p><strong>Upgrading options:</strong> <br />
You also need to determine if you&#8217;ll be doing a clean install or an upgrade. This may be decided for you, depending on the operating system you&#8217;re currently running.</p>
<p><strong>Windows XP users: </strong>Unfortunately, XP users only have the option of doing a clean install to Windows 7. In fact, most experts suggest a clean install because not only does it provide a fresh start, it also removes old files and registry entries that could slow down your machine. The only down side to a clean install is that you lose all your programs and data. However, that can be remedied by backing up your data and transferring it over once you&#8217;ve completed the installation.</p>
<p>Should you upgrade? The choice is yours. If you currently own a strong operating XP machine, there&#8217;s no need to upgrade just because it&#8217;s available. XP will continue to be a primary operating system for the foreseeable future.</p>
<p><strong>Windows Vista users:</strong> Depending on the Vista edition you currently have installed, you may be able to do an upgrade to Windows 7 rather than a clean install. The benefit of doing an upgrade is that it requires less free space for installation and transfers over your existing programs and user data. View the chart below to see if you qualify for an upgrade.</p>
<p><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-618" title="WindowsUpgradeChart copy copy" src="http://www.techhelpline.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/WindowsUpgradeChart-copy-copy.gif" alt="WindowsUpgradeChart copy copy" width="300" height="169" /></p>
<p><strong></strong> </p>
<p><strong></strong> </p>
<p><strong></strong> </p>
<p><strong></strong> </p>
<p><strong></strong> </p>
<p> <br />
 </p>
<p>Should you upgrade? For those who have recently purchased a computer running Vista, the decision is a bit tougher. A Vista machine running Service Pack 2 is a stable, efficient operating system. However there are some Vista computers that would benefit from the upgrade, such as laptops with a single core processor or computers with less than 2 GB of memory because of the built-in memory management that Windows 7 provides.   </p>
<p><strong>Check your requirements</strong><strong><br />
</strong>Before you start your installation, please make sure your computer meets the minimum hardware requirements. These will vary slightly depending if your machine is a 32 or 64 bit. If you&#8217;re not sure which version you&#8217;re running, <a title="go here" href="http://click.email.reisinnovations.com/?ju=fe2d16717361057e731579&amp;ls=fdf310727c66017f72117273&amp;m=fef1127571620d&amp;l=fe8c1277766c067f72&amp;s=fdf915727365007e7313707d&amp;jb=ffcf14&amp;t=">go here</a> for instructions to find out.</p>
<p><img class="size-full wp-image-617 alignleft" title="34bitgraphic copy copy" src="http://www.techhelpline.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/34bitgraphic-copy-copy.gif" alt="34bitgraphic copy copy" width="350" height="123" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>One last step you might want to consider before installation is running the <a title="Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor" href="http://click.email.reisinnovations.com/?ju=fe3516717361057e731670&amp;ls=fdf310727c66017f72117273&amp;m=fef1127571620d&amp;l=fe8c1277766c067f72&amp;s=fdf915727365007e7313707d&amp;jb=ffcf14&amp;t=">Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor</a>. The advisor tool will scan your hardware, devices, and installed programs for known compatibility issues and will advise you how to resolve potential issues. <br />
<strong><br />
<strong>Final thought&#8230;</strong></strong><br />
The choice to upgrade to Windows 7 is completely up to you, but if you&#8217;re in the market for a new computer then Windows 7 is definitely a great choice. Windows 7 is simply the operating system Vista should have been. And while your current computer may function fine, if it meets the requirements to upgrade, most likely you&#8217;ll enjoy the benefits the new system has to offer. </p>
<p>We hope that this information has been helpful and remember if you have any questions or need computer repair or remote tech support, call Tech Helpline.</p>
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		<title>Computer memory problems?</title>
		<link>http://www.techhelpline.com/computer-memory-problems/</link>
		<comments>http://www.techhelpline.com/computer-memory-problems/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:13:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Technology Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[computer help]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Repair]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hard drive problems]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[RAM]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Remote Support]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tech support]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.techhelpline.com/?p=605</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Let&#8217;s review the two types of memory computers operate off of &#8211; RAM (Random Access Memory) and hard drive memory. Understanding their differences will help you determine if one needs to be upgraded.  RAM versus hard drive memory The hard drive memory is the long term, permanent memory. It is where all files, photos, music, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Let&#8217;s review the two types of memory computers operate off of &#8211; RAM (Random Access Memory) and hard drive memory. Understanding their differences will help you determine if one needs to be upgraded. </p>
<p><strong>RAM versus hard drive memory<br />
</strong>The hard drive memory is the long term, permanent memory. It is where all files, photos, music, and other permanent files are stored. This memory is measured in Gigabytes (GB) and is usually much higher than RAM because it is the storage capacity for the entire machine.<strong></strong></p>
<p>RAM is the short term memory which helps increase the speed of the computer.  When you open a file, the computer must store the data somewhere temporarily to access it. So it writes the data to RAM temporarily for quick access. The more RAM your computer has, the faster you can access files and programs. RAM is typically measured in Megabytes (MB) or (GB) Gigabytes depending on the size of the computer chip.</p>
<p>How much RAM does your computer need? 512 MB is typically the standard for XP machines. If you&#8217;re on a Vista machine then 2 GB is the minimum. Unless you&#8217;re a gamer, then these amounts should be sufficient for your needs. Be sure you look at the requirements before installing any new program or game to ensure you have enough RAM.</p>
<p><strong>How do you know if you need more RAM?<br />
</strong>There are some common signs you should be aware of, for example, slower than normal speed when accessing normal programs or files. This could be a gradual process or it could happen overnight. <strong></strong></p>
<p>Another closely related sign that your RAM is running low is if you&#8217;re experiencing display problems. These can range from Internet pages that only load partially or nothing at all, and can even affect your own saved files. For example, if you try to open a document and see blank spaces where text or images should be displayed, this might tell you it&#8217;s a RAM problem.</p>
<p>One of the most obvious signs is notifications that pop up in your computer saying &#8220;low memory&#8221; or &#8220;out of memory.&#8221; If this happens, you definitely need to add more RAM soon or delete old programs.  </p>
<p><strong>Use the Task Manager<br />
</strong>A better way to find out if you need more RAM is to compare your Total Physical Memory (<em>memory installed</em>) and your Total Commit Charge (<em>total memory being used</em>), you can determine whether or not you need to add more RAM. Find these details by opening your Task Manager (Ctrl + Alt + Delete), select Task Manager, and click the Performance tab.<strong></strong></p>
<p>If your peak is lower than Total Physical Memory, then you don&#8217;t need more RAM. If your peak is higher than Total Physical Memory, then you do need more RAM. If the Total Commit Charge is higher than the Total Physical Memory, more memory would give you a significant performance boost.</p>
<p>Also note that the measurements are in (K) Kilobytes. Since most RAM is measured in (MB) Megabytes, you&#8217;ll want to convert the measurements. To convert (K) Kilobytes to (MB) Megabytes, simply divide the Kilobytes by 1024. </p>
<p><strong>Use an online memory advisor</strong><strong><br />
</strong>For those who don&#8217;t want to mess with the math, you should consult an online memory advisor tool who will do the work for you. <a href="http://click.email.reisinnovations.com/?ju=fe2816707c60027d731276&amp;ls=fdf310727c66017f72117273&amp;m=fef1127571620d&amp;l=fe8c1277766c067f72&amp;s=fdf915727365007e7313707d&amp;jb=ffcf14&amp;t=">Crucial Technology</a> will tell you what type of RAM you need and how much.<strong></strong></p>
<p>If you determine you need more RAM, you can do it yourself, or take it to a professional, where you can expect to pay anywhere from $30 to 100 for time and labor. But there are reputable websites that can help you do it yourself. You can find step-by-step instructions <a href="http://click.email.reisinnovations.com/?ju=fe2616707c60027d731278&amp;ls=fdf310727c66017f72117273&amp;m=fef1127571620d&amp;l=fe8c1277766c067f72&amp;s=fdf915727365007e7313707d&amp;jb=ffcf14&amp;t=">here</a>.  <strong></strong></p>
<p>Remember if you have any questions; please call our Tech Helpline to speak with one of our knowledgeable experts.</p>
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		<title>Got a Computer Virus?</title>
		<link>http://www.techhelpline.com/computer-virus-in-your-p/</link>
		<comments>http://www.techhelpline.com/computer-virus-in-your-p/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:34:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Virus & Spyware]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[antivirus software]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[computer locks up]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[printing problems]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[software issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spyware Removal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tech support]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.techhelpline.com/?p=492</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We all know to beware of viruses and malicious programs from harming our computers. While it is important to know what programs are available to help detect viruses and spyware, it&#8217;s vital to recognize when your computer is in danger. Common signs of an infected computer: Computer runs more slowly than normal. Computer stops responding [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We all know to beware of viruses and malicious programs from harming our computers. While it is important to know what programs are available to help detect viruses and spyware, it&#8217;s vital to recognize when your computer is in danger.</p>
<p>Common signs of an infected computer:</p>
<ul>
<li>Computer runs more slowly than normal.</li>
<li>Computer stops responding or locks up often.</li>
<li>Computer crashes and restarts every few minutes.</li>
<li>Computer restarts on its own, fails to run normally.</li>
<li>Applications on your computer don&#8217;t work properly.</li>
<li>Disks or disk drives are inaccessible.</li>
<li>Printing problems.</li>
<li>Unusual error messages.</li>
<li>Distorted menus and dialog boxes.</li>
</ul>
<p>Keep in mind that these could also be signs that you have hardware or software issues on your PC.  Without having antivirus software installed, there&#8217;s no definite way to determine this. For this reason, it&#8217;s a good idea to make sure you have an antivirus tool for protection. Our tech support team recommends the following antivirus programs. And they don&#8217;t cost a dime.<br />
<strong><br />
AVG </strong></p>
<p>AVG 8.5 is a complimentary antivirus and antispyware protection for Windows. Currently, it&#8217;s compatible with MS Windows 2000, XP, Vista and Windows 7. AVG offers a user-friendly interface which is easy to download, install and use. It is the number one &#8220;most popular download&#8221; on CNET&#8217;s download.com.</p>
<p>You can purchase the paid versions of AVG for protection against identity theft, hacker attacks, infected downloads and infected instant-messaging. However, our technical support team typically recommends downloading the complimentary version to start with, especially if you don&#8217;t currently have any viruses. <a title="Download AVG software" href="http://free.avg.com/ww-en/homepage"><strong>Download AVG software</strong></a>.<strong></strong><br />
This is another powerful and complimentary antivirus, antispyware, and antiroot kit package. Avast Home Edition allows users to customize their installation.  </p>
<p>Avast</p>
<p>Avast Home Edition does support some of the older Operating Systems that other programs do not, such as Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, and Windows NT. <a title="Install Avast Home Edition" href="http://download.cnet.com/Avast-Home-Edition-Free-Antivirus/3000-2239_4-10019223.html?tag=contentBody;mostPopTwoColWrap"><strong>Install Avast Home Edition</strong></a>.  Again, both AVG and Avast will help prevent viruses and spyware. However, if you have already contracted a virus on your PC, try one of the cleaning tools our tech support analysts recommend.<strong></strong><br />
This is a high performance tool used to remove even the most advanced malware and spyware. It&#8217;s one of the fastest and most effective tools on the market and is nicely organized and very easy to use. <a title="Download the Malware and Spyware removal tool at no charge" href="http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html?tag=contentBody;mostPopTwoColWrap"><strong>Download the Malware and Spyware removal tool at no charge</strong></a>.</p>
<p>Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.41</p>
<p>And remember, if you have any questions, call Tech Helpline to speak with one of our knowledgeable computer repair tech support analysts.</p>
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		<title>Computer Help: Online Typing Tests</title>
		<link>http://www.techhelpline.com/computer-help-online-typing-tests/</link>
		<comments>http://www.techhelpline.com/computer-help-online-typing-tests/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2009 16:23:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Technology Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business it support]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[computer help]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Computer Repair]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[online technical support]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pc support]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[typing test]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.techhelpline.com/?p=437</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you’ve ever wished that you could type as fast as your thoughts come, then Keybr.com might be something you’d enjoy. Keybr.com incorporates instructional lessons with fun, short typing exercises. Lessons start simple with home row keys and gradually add upper and lower rows into the exercises. Rather than typing random characters or letter combinations that [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you’ve ever wished that you could type as fast as your thoughts come, then Keybr.com might be something you’d enjoy.</p>
<p>Keybr.com incorporates instructional lessons with fun, short typing exercises. Lessons start simple with home row keys and gradually add upper and lower rows into the exercises. Rather than typing random characters or letter combinations that you’d never use in real life, this program keeps it realistic by providing common words that follow phonetic rules of your native language. Currently, you can choose from seven different languages to practice with, including English, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, French and Russian.  </p>
<p>This typing tool is free, easy to access, and doesn’t require any special computer software or add-ons. Simply type in the website address, <a href="http://www.keybr.com/">www.keybr.com</a>, create an account, and in minutes you’re on your way to becoming the world’s fastest typist! For those serious about such a claim, you’ll be excited to see you can compete with other visitors by reviewing the week’s high scores. After every exercise, you’ll have access to your own mini performance review which includes your top speed, average speed, number of errors and even gives you graphical data to show how you’ve progressed over time.</p>
<p>Its most unique feature, which helps it standout from others, is the customization aspect. Enjoy typing topics of interest by uploading your own text. Keep up to date on the latest entertainment news or technology reviews by adding website articles or blogs directly to your account. Learning made fun and easy, finally!</p>
<p>Tech Helpline’s goal is to provide superior technology support services, including: online technical support, computer repair, spyware removal, virus protection, helpdesk outsourcing, business it support, pc support, remote support, data recovery services and desktop support. We’ve been in operation for ten years and currently support more than 250,000 individuals. Our offices and staff are located in the USA, in Orlando, Florida. http://www.TechHelpline.com</p>
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