Solving Slow Virtual Machine Problems
Technology has a funny habit of solving one problem but then highlighting another. A typical example of this is the emergence of virtual operating systems, that is an OS that runs on top of another OS. While there are many advantages to many computer users in running these configurations they all rely the humble hard disk , and as fragmentation occurs, this can lead to instability and potentially data loss.
If you are fortunate enough to have very deep pockets then you may be using SSD’s or solid state drives. These still remain expensive and are out of the reach of most users who still have to rely (although getting much faster) on the slowest and some would say the most vulnerable technology in your computer- the hard drive. Hard drive fragmentation can cause problems with virtual machines and in some cases even data loss.
Fragmentation is where a file is split into multiple components by the operating system to allow it to fit in available space of the hard disk drive. When you are already running one operating system, and fragmentation becomes an issue, running another highly fragmented system on top of this causes a tremendous slow down in performance.
Fragmentation will not only slow down your computer or server but due to the excessive and unwarranted extra movement of the heads, the life of your storage device(s) can be seriously reduced. The problem is not only limited to single drives however, even if you have a very well specked raid set up, fragmentation can get so severe that the only viable option is data recovery or server rebuild.
You would like to think that as the problem of file fragmentation has been with us since the advent of hard drive based computer systems, operating system vendors would have come up with a software solution to ensure the problem is eradicated at source. Whilst Mac OS X will partially help with files under a 20 mb size, Windows operating systems seem to pay it no heed whatsoever.
Defragmentation utilities can take care of this problem, however, running them practically ties up the machine until completion, slowing the machine to a crawl. So what can be done to remove this issue? There are a number of possibilities that can be tried.
Fortunately we are not left to the operating systems alone as there are a number of third party defragmentation applications that are far superior to the inbuilt OS tools. These can be scheduled to run when system usage is very low for example whilst the system is idle or the screen saver is running. As you go defragmentation is my personal choice.
Use dedicated hardware for the Virtual Machines: Whilst it may appear to be a contradiction in terms, running the virtual machine from a dedicated hard disk or RAID Array is probably the most efficient method of running the machine at all. It leads to the minimum of wear on the individual hard disk devices and means that running even simultaneous defragmentation is possible.
Tips For Virtual Machines
With the increasing popularity of Virtual Machines comes an issue that many may not be aware of. This problem is an age-old issue that has affected systems from the very early days of storage. It can cause hard drive failure leading to expensive data loss scenarios necessitating data recovery professionals. This problem is, of course, fragmentation.
If you are fortunate enough to have very deep pockets then you may be using SSD’s or solid state drives. These still remain expensive and are out of the reach of most users who still have to rely (although getting much faster) on the slowest and some would say the most vulnerable technology in your computer- the hard drive. Hard drive fragmentation can cause problems with virtual machines and in some cases even data loss.
Fragmentation occurs on all hard drives and is part of the way the operating system stores the data on a disk. It won’t lay it down nice and neatly in one continuous block, but will lay it wherever there is a space. One file could literally be split into many separate places on the hard disk and this is fragmentation. If you have one OS running it can be bad but if you are running virtual machines the problems is far more serious.
Fragmentation will not only slow down your computer or server but due to the excessive and unwarranted extra movement of the heads, the life of your storage device(s) can be seriously reduced. The problem is not only limited to single drives however, even if you have a very well specked raid set up, fragmentation can get so severe that the only viable option is data recovery or server rebuild.
Operating systems handle fragmentation in different ways. Microsoft Windows, for example, pays little or no attention to the degree of fragmentation on a storage device, whereas Mac OS X goes some way to helping by automatically defragmenting files under 20 MB in size. Other Operating Systems handle file fragmentation in various ways, with varying levels of success.
Utilizing defragmentation tools can help to alleviate the problem but often the use of some of these tools is very invasive and will render your system virtually unusable while they are running so what other options do you have.
Use automated defragmentation routines: Dependent upon your OS you can normally, either directly in the OS itself or via third party software; schedule defrags to run at times convenient to yourself.
Use separate hard disks for your Virtual Machine software. While this may appear to fly in the face of VM’s in the first place, having a robust and business capable solution is in most cases the driving factor. Some astute companies will even have a dedicated hard disk array solely for the purpose of running VM software if there is a business case for it.
What Are The Problems With VM Ware
Virtual machine applications such as Parallels, Virtual Pc and VM Ware are becoming increasingly popular as they allow users a number of options that would otherwise be unavailable to them for example a clean system for faster performance or perhaps the ability to test an application in isolation from your main operating system. Sadly the common hard drive is still a factor that needs consideration as fragmentation can cause data problems.
If you are fortunate enough to have very deep pockets then you may be using SSD’s or solid state drives. These still remain expensive and are out of the reach of most users who still have to rely (although getting much faster) on the slowest and some would say the most vulnerable technology in your computer- the hard drive. Hard drive fragmentation can cause problems with virtual machines and in some cases even data loss.
Hard disk fragmentation occurs when files are split in to multiple chunks as they are slotted into spare space on the hard drive. If you are running a solitary OS chances are you have already noticed considerable slow down in your system since purchase. Just imagine two or more OS’s running causing the same file fragmentation! Pretty soon your system could come to a grinding halt.
Fragmentation will not only slow down your computer or server but due to the excessive and unwarranted extra movement of the heads, the life of your storage device(s) can be seriously reduced. The problem is not only limited to single drives however, even if you have a very well specked raid set up, fragmentation can get so severe that the only viable option is data recovery or server rebuild.
Each operating system will have it’s own method of dealing with file fragmentation (or not as the case may be). Whilst Mac OS X will automatically defragment a file under the size of 20mb, windows pays scant regard to how badly files are fragmented. Other systems use a variety of different methods to combat the problem.
Defragmentation utilities can take care of this problem, however, running them practically ties up the machine until completion, slowing the machine to a crawl. So what can be done to remove this issue? There are a number of possibilities that can be tried.
Scheduling a defragmentation is a good bet as you can let it run whilst you are doing another task or perhaps out to lunch. Third party applications can do this extremely well.
Use dedicated hardware for the Virtual Machines: Whilst it may appear to be a contradiction in terms, running the virtual machine from a dedicated hard disk or RAID Array is probably the most efficient method of running the machine at all. It leads to the minimum of wear on the individual hard disk devices and means that running even simultaneous defragmentation is possible.
The Advantages of Buying a Slim Digital Camera
Digital Cameras have come a long way since the 3 megapixel days. They can be as advanced or as simple as you want. The picture quality is usually quite good. Gone is the day of the big clunky camera. Slim is in and very popular. They come in fashion colors now. A slim digital camera is the camera that everyone wants.
There are cameras small enough to fit on your keychain. These are compact and depending on the quality of the camera they can take some great photos. The use of these cameras are more for last minute photo ops like looking at a home and you are interested in buying it, snap a picture. They do not have many features, but for the price they will get the job done. They range from 10.00 to 60.00 and up.
These tiny cameras actually take surprisingly nice photos for their size. Teens would love them for when they are with their friends. They can catch a first baby step, a photo after a fender bender. Whatever you can use them for they will be enjoyed. It is a good first camera for a child because the cost can be minimal. The cost runs between 10.00 and 60.00 or more depending on the features and maker of the camera. Most are no frill just aim and shoot.
Compact digital cameras are the way to go. You do not have to buy film, batteries, or flash bulbs. You do not have to worry about exposing your film and losing your photos. They come with many features and in many sizes and colors. They even come in fashion colors like pink, red, and purple. The picture quality has improved over the years.
Most slim digital cameras come with some basic features like a slot for an SD card to increase your memory, a built in red eye reduction mode, night view mode, and an LCD screen. These are great features. The camera is still small enough to put in a purse or pocket. They are not heavy to carry around.
Many of the cameras offer sepia tone or a black and white mode. This is a nice feature to have if you like to add interesting effects to your photos. There are zoom lenses and macro modes which allow for taking detailed pictures.
The batteries are usually rechargeable which saves money on replacing them. My favorite feature is the large LCD screens. They come in many sizes, but typically 2-2.5 inch screens are used. This is great for those that cannot see well through the view finder. These mini cameras come with most everything you could need or want. They are small enough to keep in a glove compartment or carry in a purse, and yes even a pocket. Buy the model that has the features that you need at a price you can afford.
How to Build a Custom PC Gaming System
Customizing your own PC based on your gaming needs, you should be sure that you’ve got the right software and hardware. Just the basics in such factors simply would not suffice for the demands of hard core gaming. If you know what you want, then selecting the right PC gaming system won’t be that hard.
First up, what kind of monitor should you get? Display is a very important factor that determines your level of enjoyment during game play. Forget about huge and chunky monitors of yesteryear, as they just won’t do. Why not invest in something classy and tech savvy, such as an LCD monitor for your PC.
LCD monitors are way better for a variety of reasons, besides the stunning display and obviously brighter colors. Unlike the older CRT monitors, the LCD screens emit less radiation, which is why they are more eye-friendly. Plus, they are slim, lightweight, easy to move around, and takes up less space on your desk or office. What more can you ask for in a gaming monitor for your long hours of game play?
As for the graphic display, aim for at least 512 MB- then ask if you can still upgrade this later on if you are not satisfied with the game play. It all boils down to the number of slots in the motherboard, and whether the system would be able to cope with other added hardware in the future.
Now let us move on to the hard disk for your gaming PC. Your hard drive should also have a lot of space available. Did you know that at the least, 300 GB is needed to support gaming? A large disk space lets you install lot of games as well as save several important files like sound files, video clips, and many more. Here is a bit of a factoid: some games actually take up as much 3 GB when installed, and the virtual memory needed to support game time should also not be ignored.
Furthermore, you will need a high quality DVD-R installed into your custom gaming PC. For the ultra game fanatics who can afford to spend on original boxed copies of PC games, then branded types like Sony or LG DVD-R are ideal to have. Forget about getting a cheap brand or model, as they can break down easily and will definitely hamper your gaming.
When there is a discussion on the type of processor needed for gaming, power and speed are top priorities. You should try to get the Intel Skulltrail, Intel Core Duo, or at least Pentium 4 for this. Anything less than Pentium 4 simply cannot support the type of gaming experience you look for.
Securing Your Laptop Settings And Data With A BIOS Password
There are many things that today’s technology can get around. There are simple tools that can keep a computer such as a laptop very secure, even when it is stolen. These can be in the form of a lock, protection, even password protection. Imagine that your laptop was stolen, and you had valuable data on board that you want to keep away from crooks. This can be done with a BIOS password on many laptops.
BIOS stands for the Basic Input Output System and is basically the bare bones that the operating system loads from. It controls all of the on board devices as well as any peripherals you may have attached. When you set a password for the system, it becomes nearly impossible to crack and the system never forgets your password, keeping your information safe.
The owner of the laptop can set a password to the BIOS to protect the system. The BIOS password will never expire and can only be changed if you know the password. Setting a BIOS password really protects your data from being messed with.
Many Acer brand laptops offer easily accessible BIOS options. A BIOS password ends the simplicity of the accessible settings of your laptop. When upgrading an ACER laptop’s hardware, there is often BIOS update needed, so that is a great time to set up a BIOS password.
It may be difficult to find the BIOS options on a Sony laptop. It is well worth taking the time to set up the BIOS password for your Sony brand laptop computer. When your BIOS password is set, all of your important settings will be saved and will not be accessible to anyone that does not have the password. This helps to prevent other people from messing with your system setup, especially because Sony brand laptops are targeted more by thieves.
Dell notebooks offer BIOS settings that are very simple to get into and change. Protecting these settings in the BIOS is very important, especially if you leave your computer alone for long periods of time. Reaching your important data on your Dell laptop will be much more difficult when someone steals it. Keep your information and settings safe when you use a BIOS password.
Closing Comments
The BIOS is a powerful tool and can really cause some damage to a system configuration. The passwords for a BIOS were designed to protect the computer from suffering mindless changes and abuse from pranksters, coworkers and even family members that you want to keep off of your computer.
Designing a Custom PC Gaming System
Customizing your own PC based on your gaming needs, you should be sure that you’ve got the right software and hardware. Just the basics in such factors simply would not suffice for the demands of hard core gaming. If you know what you want, then selecting the right PC gaming system won’t be that hard.
Here is a good question to start off with: what type of monitor works best for gamers? As you may already know, display is a vital element if you want to maximize your gaming experience. If you would recall your very first PC monitor, you can only imagine how huge and bulky it appears compared to the cool LCD monitors of today.
Why are LCD monitors the thing when it comes to your gaming needs. Obviously, LCD screens give off better color displays and higher resolutions. Plus, unlike CRT monitors that used to be the norm, these slim type screens do not emit high levels of radiation, so you don’t risk damaging your eyes. If you are after portability and less bulk, then an LCD will be perfect for you; they take up very little space on your desk.
The graphics card is also a prime consideration, so what type should you purchase? For the budget conscious, 256 MB would be okay, but 512 MB is the norm for hard core gamers. Also, you should be sure that your motherboard has enough slots to accommodate your needs, since you will be sure to have additional hardware later on.
Speaking of having enough, are you sure your hard drive can accommodate the demands of game storage? Consider getting a hard disk that is extra generous on space, because you will be likely to save thousands of songs, video clips, and files, not to mention installing your games which take up megabytes of space at a time.
Also, be sure that you have a reliable and good quality DVD-R on your custom gaming PC. For people who can splurge on spending cash on boxed original versions of PC games, then an LG or Sony DVD-R should do the trick. Keep in mind that cheaper brands of DVD drives can tend to be unreliable, and might conk out without a moment’s notice. What a bummer for gamers!
When there is a discussion on the type of processor needed for gaming, power and speed are top priorities. You should try to get the Intel Skulltrail, Intel Core Duo, or at least Pentium 4 for this. Anything less than Pentium 4 simply cannot support the type of gaming experience you look for.
Pros and Cons of Printer Ink Refills
Ink cartridges are something that must be purchased frequently and can be quite expensive. There can be big savings in buying refills rather than new cartridges.
Before deciding to go with a refill rather than a new cartridge, there are some factors that you may want to consider.
Printers are quite specific as to the type of ink that must be used for the printer to function property. Refills that say they can be used for all types of printers may not be trustworthy.
If you want to save money but also get the best performance from your printer you need to find a refill well-suited for your printer.
Also you want to factor in what you are getting for your money. You want to be aware of how many refills you are actually getting in a kit.
While this can keep the price down, remember that a cartridge should only be refilled a couple of times before it is replaced. After that, it will start to malfunction and it won’t matter how good the refill ink is, your print quality will still be poor.
If you buy a refill that has enough ink for multiple uses, you can always buy a new (or remanufactured) cartridge after refilling yours a couple of times and then use the rest of the refill ink on that one when it’s empty.
Ink also does not last forever. When purchasing your refill kit you need to keep in mind how quickly you will be able to use it. If you will not be able to use all the ink before it goes bad you may want to rethink the purchase.
The refill process is not an easy one unless you have special tools. There are places that specialize in refilling cartridges and have the needed tools to make the process easy. If you are going to do it yourself remember it can be messy so you can’t rush or be careless.
When you’re doing it yourself, ink can leak or spill and it can make a real mess if you’re not careful. Be sure to read through the refill kit instructions thoroughly before attempting the refill - probably a couple of times.
You may be able to find additional instructions online at the manufactures website. If they have step by step directions with illustrations or demonstrations this could be very helpful.
Give yourself plenty of time on your first attempt to refill a cartridge. It is a learning process and you don’t want to be in a hurry. If you have to get something out right away you don’t want to be worrying about refilling your cartridge. Set aside some time to learn to do it correctly.
Custom PC Gaming System Design
Many game fanatics won’t settle for just the basics when it comes to their choice of personal computers. If you like gaming, then you should carefully select the hardware and software you will use to build your own PC, which is not that difficult if you already know what you need.
Here is a good question to start off with: what type of monitor works best for gamers? As you may already know, display is a vital element if you want to maximize your gaming experience. If you would recall your very first PC monitor, you can only imagine how huge and bulky it appears compared to the cool LCD monitors of today.
Why are LCD monitors the thing when it comes to your gaming needs. Obviously, LCD screens give off better color displays and higher resolutions. Plus, unlike CRT monitors that used to be the norm, these slim type screens do not emit high levels of radiation, so you don’t risk damaging your eyes. If you are after portability and less bulk, then an LCD will be perfect for you; they take up very little space on your desk.
What about your graphics card? With regards to gaming, of course this has to be able to cope with the demands of game play. At the least, 256 MB is all right for those on a budget, but for hard core gaming, 512 MB should be your choice. Plus, ensure that there are enough expansion slots on your motherboard, as you will be most likely to attach extra hardware.
Now let us move on to the hard disk for your gaming PC. Your hard drive should also have a lot of space available. Did you know that at the least, 300 GB is needed to support gaming? A large disk space lets you install lot of games as well as save several important files like sound files, video clips, and many more. Here is a bit of a factoid: some games actually take up as much 3 GB when installed, and the virtual memory needed to support game time should also not be ignored.
Furthermore, you will need a high quality DVD-R installed into your custom gaming PC. For the ultra game fanatics who can afford to spend on original boxed copies of PC games, then branded types like Sony or LG DVD-R are ideal to have. Forget about getting a cheap brand or model, as they can break down easily and will definitely hamper your gaming.
For the processors, if you aren’t interested the Skulltrail, get at least Pentium 4 for your gaming needs. That is the baseline- anything below Pentium 4 will slow down the game play in the worst times.
Why Do You Need a Custom Built PC?
Purchasing a reliable and updated computer can be a challenge, especially for those who are new at it. It is very important for consumers to determine what their computing needs and demands are, to be able to get a PC that can handle the work that is required of it.
How you use your PC and what you intend to accomplish with it best determines the kind of PC you should get. There are some advantages that you can enjoy when you buy a custom built PC over a PC that has already been prefabricated. When you say custom built, it means that the PC was made to cater to your exact computing needs. Below are some scenarios to better illustrate this:
For example, a businessman is more likely to want a personal computer that has a word processor, spreadsheet software, as well as software for effective communication. He wants a PC that is efficient and functional, and is very unlikely to want one that as too much extra hardware that he won’t need. Multimedia is not a big priority for the businessman in this regard.
If you have this in mind, you would probably invest in a mid to high grade motherboard, a high-end solid state hard drive and top of the line wireless Internet receivers/modems. Your probably would not need a high-end video card.
Now take into consideration a student who is in search of the ideal PC. Obviously, his computing needs and demands vary greatly compared to the abovementioned businessman. In general, a student needs a hard drive with ample space, and if gaming is one priority, a reliable video card is a must as well. At the very least, a 1.5 GHz processor will be enough to cater to the student’s needs. In terms of internet connections, a wireless modem or a cable modem would suffice.
Now, if you are thinking of supplying your office, on the other hand, with custom built personal computers, then we shift gears once again. Here’s the thing about personal computers in the office- you do not need high end hardware to make those personal computers productive.
An office PC must have ample disk space, and powerful enough to allow different types of tasks to be done. You will not need high-end video cards or sound-cards, but a PC that can access the internet with a good processor.
Now if you are an avid gamer, then it is not hard to understand how much more demanding you can be when it comes to selecting a PC. For sure, multimedia is a top priority, so expect a custom built PC with high end video cards, sound cards, as well as a large disk drive. Extra hardware might have to be installed depending on the need.