VLC Player (the media player that plays everything!)

Have you ever received an error from Windows Media Player or Quicktime player stating that there was an error and your player needs to be updated or an additional codec needs to be installed? Then after you go to find this missing plug in, codec, or upgrade and finally install it the media file still won't play!

Codec- is a device or computer program capable of encoding and/or decoding a digital data stream or signal.

You can avoid this hassle by downloading the VLC Player. VLC Player is a free open source program that will play every type of media file you throw at it, including CDs and DVDs. You will never have to go searching for another media player, codec, upgrade, or plug-in in again. You can even stream video from you computer to other computers on your network or across the internet with VLC. VLC Player is available for Windows, Mac and Linux at http://www.videolan.org/vlc/ . So if your having trouble playing a file please try VLC Player you will NOT be disappointed.

As always leave any extra info or questions in the comments Thanks!

Free Microsoft Office (Open Office)

I would like to apologize to my audience for not posting the past two days. Unfortunately I have been sick and bed bound. I’m finally feeling a little better and I believe I’m back in the blogging grove. :)

As we all know Microsoft products are very expensive and are out of many people’s price range. The average computer user doesn’t want to pay hundreds of dollars just so they can type a document or create a spread sheet. Unfortunately there are not many cost effective software options when it comes to Microsoft Office. But fortunately there is one VERY cost effective solution. In fact it’s free! The program is called Open Office. It’s available for free at http://openoffice.org .What’s nice about Open Office is that it can open, edit and save Microsoft Office documents. The software package includes six programs Base, Calc, Draw, Impress, Math, and Writer.

- Base is a database program comparable to Access.

- Clac is a spread sheet program that is similar to Excel

- Impress is just like PowerPoint. You can create stunning slides and presentations.

- Draw can be used to create and edit drawings, flow charts and logos.

- Math is used to create and edit scientific formulas and equations.

- Writer is just like Microsoft Word. It’s a well rounded document/text editor.

I highly recommend Open Office especially if you are strapped for money. To be honest students, businesses and everyday users will have all of their needs fulfilled by this software, making Microsoft Office a large waste of money. So if you are considering purchasing the Microsoft Office suite please check out Open Office FIRST and decide if you really need Microsoft’s over priced software. Hopefully this post saves you some money!

As always please feel free to leave comments, questions and any other Microsoft Office alternatives.

7 Ways to Make Your Computer Faster

Whether you have just bought a new computer or are still utilizing an old one, there is always a desire to move faster. Upgrading your machine and keeping up with necessary maintenance is crucial in order to preserve speed and power.

1. Hardware

The hardware of the machine is the most important thing when it comes to speed, especially when we are talking about the memory units. There are two types of memory in a computer RAM memory and the hard drive(s).

RAM memory is “random accessible memory” programs use this memory when they run. RAM memory is only available when the computer is turned on, when it is off the memory is blank. The more RAM memory you have, the easier it is for your computer to multi-task. Increasing the amount of RAM memory is an easy way to boost your computers performance. Every computer has a limit to the amount of RAM that can be added. You cannot exceed this amount because countless errors will occur and the computer will be in operable. To find out your machines RAM memory limit go to http://www.crucial.com and scan your machine.

Hard drives are memory units that store files even when the machine is turned off. One thing that will increase your speed with a hard drive is upgrading to one that has a higher RPM rating. The higher the RPM the faster the disk is able to rotate therefore allowing data to be transferred more quickly.

If you have to decide between up grading RAM or a hard drive definitely upgrade the RAM first if you are looking for more speed. If you need more storage space then upgrade the hard drive.

2. Clean up Space

Everybody is guilty of holding on to files that they no longer need. Keeping these extra files can really hinder your computers speed when accessing the files you do use. So make sure you delete those old files and make sure you empty the recycle bin! If you are not sure if you will need them again back them up on a flash drive, CD, DVD, or additional hard drive, so that you still have a copy just in case. A program that I use and recommend is CCleaner . It is a free program that will make clean up a breeze. I will cover CCleaner in a later post but for now I encourage you to check it out at http://www.piriform.com.

3. Remove Programs From Start Up

Remove programs from the start up will allow you computer to start up faster! To remove programs from Start Up go to the start menu > select all programs > click the start up folder and right click and delete the programs you don’t want starting when windows starts. Also be aware when you install new programs because the usually offer the option to be included in the start menu or left out. Usually most of the items in the program tray (the area by the clock on your desktop) are not being used, so you can right click them and close the program unless you are using it.

4. Defragment Drive

Over time a computer will become littered with fragmented files in many areas of the hard drive. It is important to get rid of these file fragments so that current data can be accessed as quickly as possible. In newer versions of Windows Vista/7 click the start menu and type in the search Disk Defragmenter, then select the program, select the drive you wish to defragment and click defragment disk. In Windows Xp you will find the Disk Defragmenter in the start>programs>accessories>system tools.

5. Adjust Visual Effects for Performance

Computers allocate a certain amount of memory to what is being displayed on the screen. When more memory is used for graphics the visual display is better. On the downside the memory is taken from regular system processing when used for graphics, making your computer slower. To change this you can usually enter your video cards settings by right clicking the desktop and there should be an option. See what settings work best for your needs!

6. Scan for Viruses

Viruses, spyware and malware can drastically cut performance of your computer. Use an anti-virus software to detect and remove any infections your computer may have. If you do not have an anti-virus there are free anti-virus programs such as SpyBot Search and Destroy which you can download at http://www.safer-networking.org/index2.html . Keep your anti-virus up to data to avoid any future attacks.

7. ReadyBoost

ReadyBoost is a way for windows to use flash memory, such as a flash drive, to boost performance. So if you have an extra flash drive you might want to see how much better ReadyBoost can make your machine run. Simply plug in the flash drive in the usb port> go to my computer> find the drive and right click it> find properties>and select the ReadyBoost tab> decide how much memory you want it to use to boost your machine and click apply. You should now be able to run programs quicker than ever before!

Hopefully these tips will get your computer running as fast as you expect it to. If you have any more suggestions please post in the comments!

Welcome to Tech Talk

Hello to all my visitors. This is my first post on The Tech Talk Blog and would first like to introduce my self and outline the content this blog will provide. My name is Adam and I am a computer science student at a small college in Kansas. I have always been fascinated by technology and constantly seek to learn more. I enjoy helping people discover the true capabilities of their electronics,that is why I began this blog. I am now your resource for computer support.
This blog is intended for everyone, especially those that are tired of paying the computer repair store tons of money!! In this blog I plan to cover a few basic frequently asked questions "like how to speed up a computer" and "how to remove a virus". I will also post how to videos and review certain products and services that I think are worth while.
Please feel free to ask me questions at admin@cashcrate101.com or you can just leave comments on the blog. I will most likely make a post and/or video out of the most popular questions. In all I look forward to assisting you with all of your computer needs!