Check System Specification

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Computer users should familiarize themselves with the specifications of their machines. This information is valuable when it comes time to upgrade components or download new drivers for existing components.

On Windows-based Computers

1). Hold down the "Windows" key and press "Pause/Break." This will open a window listing your basic system properties.

2). Hold down the "Windows" key and press "r" to open the "Run" command dialog box for more detailed specification.

3). Type "dxdiag" in the dialog box and press "Return." This will open the "DirectX Diagnostic Tool," which contains detailed specs on your system, display and sound hardware as well as information on input devices attached to your computer.

View Hardware Components on Your Computer

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If you want to view a comprehensive listing of all of the various hardware components installed inside your computer, you need look no further than the Windows native "System Information" utility. This single utility will allow you to view information about every aspect of your computer, including both hardware and software, as well as detailed information about each and every one of your system resources. The steps work in window XP.

1). Click "Start."

2). Click "All Programs."

3). Click "Accessories."

4). Click "System Tools."

5). Click "System Information”. From the "System Information" window, click on "Components" to view a list of all of the hardware components inside your computer. These components will be separated into sub-categories.

PDA Backup Programs

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 Losing the data in your personal digital assistant, or PDA, is not fun. Whether it's the contact information of clients and colleagues, the settings of a supply management system program or utility meter reading records, losing the data in the PDA can cause serious problems for you and the business for which you work. Thankfully, a wide variety of data backup options are available for PDA users.

Proprietary Desktop Software

PDA data backups can be made directly onto your hard drive with a number of proprietary programs that work for multiple PDA devices.

According to the Sprite Backup company website, 18 million people have used the Sprite Backup for PDA data backup. Sprite Backup is available for Windows Mobile users. Sprite Clone is for businesses looking to give PDAs with identical content to employees, and Sprite Terminator can remotely delete all content on your PDA in the event that it is lost or stolen.

Another option is Spb Backup. This program creates compressed files, which save hard drive space, of your PDA's data directly on your computer and can be set to make the backups automatically.

Free Desktop Software

In addition to Windows, Apple and manufacturer-created operating systems, some PDAs run on Linux, so it's little surprise that some free, open-source data backup programs are available.

DirSync Pro is available for free download and is compatible for PDAs with Windows, Apple and Linux operating systems and backing up the data via USB cord. FlyBackUp is another cross-platform free program, but holds a limit of 50 backups.

As with most free and open-source software, no technical assistance or warranty is offered for free PDA backup desktop software.

Online Backup

Even with file compression, every hard drive has its size limits and sometimes hard drives crash, too. So a number of online PDA backup options keep your data stored on a third-party server either free or with a paid subscription.

How to hard Reset a PDA

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Today's PDAs, smart phones, and pocket PCs are hardy and versatile machines that gain technological ground on their desktop brethren with each generation, but, like desktop PCs, occasionally PDA operating systems glitch and freeze.

1). Locate the owner's manual for the PDA being reset.

2). Read the model-specific "Hard Reset" or "Factory Reset" directions for the PDA. Certain buttons, described in the PDA owner's manual, must be held down while resetting a PDA to perform a hard reset.

3). Unwind a paperclip so that one end is straightened and locate the "Reset Hole" on the rear of the machine.

4). Insert the straightened end of the paperclip into the reset hole while holding down the buttons specified in the owner's manual (typically the "Power" button).

5). Remove the paperclip. The PDA will reset to its original factory settings.

How to Warm Reset a PDA

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1). Unwind the paperclip so that one end is straightened and locate the "Reset Hole" on the rear of a Palm OS model PDA.

2). Hold down the "Up" button on the Palm OS PDA.

3). Insert the straightened end of the paperclip into the reset hole while continuing to hold the "Up" button.

4). Remove the paperclip. The PDA will reset in a mode similar to "Safe Mode" on a Windows PC.

How to Soft Reset a PDA

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Resetting the device usually corrects any strange operating system behavior and allows users to begin using their personal digital assistant normally, once again. Multiple PDA reset options exist.

1). Lay the PDA face down on a flat surface.

2). Unwind a paperclip so that one end is straightened.

3). Locate the "Reset Hole" on the rear of the machine.

4). Insert the straightened end of the paperclip into the reset hole.

5). Remove the paperclip. The PDA will reset.

The Best CPU Stress Tests

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Computer hardware is not perfect; manufacturing errors do still occur, and parts that once worked fine can develop problems over time. These problems may not be as obvious as a system that simply fails to work. A variety of CPU stress testing software exists to help weed out bad systems and identify those that work properly. The testing typically performs long and grueling mathematical calculations, exercising every part of the system and alerts the user upon any failure.

Prime95/MPrime

Prime95 for Windows and its Linux equivalent, MPrime (playtool.com), are popular and free Mersenne prime number search programs. Seeking prime numbers is an intense and time-consuming process that requires precise calculations. Prime95 and MPrime will halt and alert the user if any calculation fails. They come with a "torture testing" mode specifically designed for putting your computer's hardware through its paces and can optionally contribute your calculations to an Internet-wide collaborative effort to find new prime numbers.

System Stability Tester

For the open source geek in you, there's System Stability Tester, available for both Windows and Linux (sourceforge.net) this free program uses your hardware to calculate the number pi to millions of places using several different algorithms. Their results are compared, and any discrepancy is reported to the user.

CPUBurn

CPUBurn is another free and open source project that runs on Windows and Linux. This program is designed to cause your CPU and other components to emit as much heat as possible rather than strictly to check for calculation accuracy, as a way of stressing your ventilation and cooling systems. Be sure they're in order before running this one.