AN EASIER WAY TO RUN NETWORK CABLE FROM ONE ROOM TO ANOTHER

Sometimes you may live or work in an area with a lot of RF interference which makes it almost impossible to use WIFI, at aleast yields minimal bandwidth. Also, some people feel that their
information is more secure if it's cabled instead of transmitted through the air. This can help prevent intrusions such as 'man in the middle attacks or packet sniffers. Here's a simple, 'almost
professional looking' way to ran CAT-5 cabling from your router to a neighboring room. NOTE that there is a 300 foot limitation for using CAT-5 Cabling and for best results, it's best not to go further than 200 to 250 feet in length between connections. (CAT-5 being typical networking cable)

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS: You will be drilling though a wall. Any time you are doing so you need to make sure that you do not hit a power line that's running through the wall. If you have any reservations about this, you may want to hire someone to do this. Also, the way we are going to do this is not the cabling certified method. it's just an easier way to connect from one room to another. You should also be familiar with basic electrical safety before trying to do this project.

TOOLS FOR THE JOB: You're going to need a drill, a standard length drill bit, a long one, (such as an 18 inch drill bit) a level, the CAT-5 Cabling with the RJ-45 connectors already on, two face plates
(Coax face plates will do the job) a piece of sand paper (80 to 100 grit works well) masking tape, a phillips screw driver, a pencil, a fine tip Sharpy, a hammer (or even better, a rubber mallet)
and four drywall type wall ties with the appropriate screws.

Step 1)  Take a peek at both sides of the wall, from one room to the   other. To find out approximately where to place your first  hole, you'll need to know where the base plates with work on each side of the wall. Usually, you can just eye each room to see where the base plate with work out well from both   sides. You can also use a tape measure on both sides to be even more precise. Once you have a good idea of where you'd like the base plates to fit onto the walls, you'll need to make sure there's no studs in that area. We used our hand  and knocked on the wall to make sure no studs were in our   
path. If you're not familiar with this, you can also use a stud finder. Once you've decided where to line up the base plates, you're ready for the next step.

Step 2)  Coax base plates have a little bit smaller hole than you'll need to guide the CAT-5 cable through. You can use the drill in a circular motion to make the hole larger, then fine tune the hole by rolling up the sand paper into a tubular shape  and dialing in the shape of the hole to the desired size and shape. Test the CAT-5 cable to make sure it can easily pass through the base plate. Once you have the base plate finished and checked, do the other base plate the same way. NOTE that some hardware stores may already have a base plate with the appropriate size hole. I found a couple at OSH that probably would have worked without having to resize the plates. If you have a small CAT-5 cable, (such as a 3 foot cable from the dollar store) you can take this to your local hardware store and fit the cable to the plates before buying them.

Step 3)  Grab one of the plates and turn it around so the back of the plate is facing you. Place the plate against the wall in the desired location. Using a level and a pencil, trace a line across the top of the base plate so you'll know where the top of the base plate will be. Once you have the top figured out, you won't need the level for this plate. Line the plate up with the line you just made, then with your sharpy, mark the placement of ALL the holes on the plate. This includes both of the screw holes and trace the diameter of the cable hole onto the wall. Your base plate should now be lined up and the position of the holes should now be marked.

 

 

Step 4)  Using the shorter bit first, Drill the hole where the CAT-5  cable is going to be fed through the wall. DON'T go past the drywall on the first side until you have stopped and examined the interior of the wall for power lines. If  there's any power close to the hole or obstructing the hole, you'll have to repostion where the base plates are going to go onto the walls. If it's safe to continue, hone out hole so that the CAT-5 cable can easily pass through the opening. Test out the opening with your cable.

Step 5)  Once you have the plate lined up and the opening created for  first side of the of the wall, switch your drill bit to the 18 inch. (or other bit long enough to easily pass entirely through the wall) Once the bit has gone all the way through the wall and you feel that is has passed slightly though the
other side of the wall, release the bit from the drill while  keeping the bit stuck in the wall. If you have gone straight through the wall, you should see the bit sticking out the  other side of the wall. Using steps 2 and 3, line up the  base plate on the second side of the wall. Create the opening on this side and test the cable from this side.    

     
Step 6)  Drywall generally does not hold screws in place, you'll need  to have 4 plastic wall ties and the screws that came with them. Once you have marked the position of the screw holes, use the smaller bit to drill the openings for the screws. align the wall tie into the drilled hole. Once the tie is
lined up into the hole, tap the tie into the wall with the rubber mallet. BE CAREFUL because the plastic ties break pretty easy until they are actually in the wall. Only tap the wall tie in as far as the starting of the threads. Once tie is this far in, use the phillips screwdriver to install it the rest of the way into the wall. Set up all of the screw holes with the same method.   

Step 7)  Grab your first face plate. With the face of the plate facing out towards you, line it up with the screw holes and mount the first plate onto the wall. Use the screws that came with the wall ties, DO NOT use the screws that came with the base plate. The threads are probably different than
the wall ties. The cable install below...

Step 8) To fish the CAT-5 cable through the wall, tape it to the long drill bit. Make sure the the connector part of the cable is slightly past the tip of the drill bit when taping them together. (otherwise, it won't slip through the wall)  Once you know that the cable with pass through the wall,
back it out and mount your other base plate using the technique you used on the first side of the wall.
In this example, we used the cheapo Dollar store blue cable to test the step before using the actual long cable. If the blue one breaks, we're only out a buck!

Step 9) Fish the cable though the wall and clean up anything such  as drywall dust or materials. the cable should now be able to hook up directly from your router to your computer in the room next door. NOTE that it's generally not a good idea to run cables across the floor creating a trip hazard.
If needed, get creative and follow the horizontal face place  along the floor and go up and over door frames as needed.  just make sure you don't exceed 200 to 250 feet of total cable.
                         
                                                                                                    www.NorthCountyPCSolutions.com

Aspire One 772 Notebook Product Review

The Aspire 772 is pint sized netbook. At 11 inches, it's roughly the same size as a net book. This little guy has all the advantages of a full size laptop. (with the exception of an optical drive)  

This machine features 4GB of RAM, 320GB Hard Drive, and a dual core AMD 1.333 GHz Processor with an integrated graphics chip to eliminate having a bridge between the processor and the
graphics. It also features a 64 nit processor and O.S.

The ports include 3 USB ports, an HDMI port, standard monitor port, head phone & microphone ports, Etheret port and an SD reader. Not bad for a computer that can fit almost anywhere a netbook can. The Operating System features the full Windows 7 Home Premium Edition with Service Pack 1. As with any store bought computer, there's the typical junkware to remove as soon as you boot up.
However, even with the junkware, the computer seems to zip along pretty well. CPU and memory usage were minimal even with the junkware running. Not too shabby!

The casing is surprisingly sturdy and the keyboard is actually a lot easier to use than expected from such a small laptop. However, you'd better have good eyes to see the text with the default setting on such a small machine. We actually use one of these little Acers as a tech machine for outcalls. It's survived 6 months (and counting) of mobile field teching without having any problems.

One of the things we really love about this machine is the minimal power consumption. The battery pack is the typical 6 lithium cell configuration, which lasts a long time in this little guy. As a matter of fact, the external adapter is rated at a low 28 watts. Pretty impressive for a full laptop. Some of this is due to a slightly lower processor rate than larger machines as well as the lack of having an optical drive.

Since windows can now be easily installed from a thumb drive, we did not miss the optical drive at all. For bench tech purposes, you may want to keep an external DVD drive handy though. The bottom line, we love this machine and give a full 5 out of 5 stars. Kudos to acer for making a hardy, no compromise machine with minimal power comsumption.

                                                                                                                  - North County PC Solutions

REVIVAL OF THE ZIRE-72 PALM PILOT

If you're getting ready to throw out that archiac Palm Pilot or 'PDA', you might want to think twice. PDA's are actually great little devices with most of the features of a modern cell phone. (less the cellular connectivity itself) Not only can they manage times and dates, but can also record sound,

take digital pictures, play various forms of media, and even be syncronized to your PC. Just about any application software available for the Androids and droids have simliar software available for Palm OS or other Personal Handheld Device OS.

Maybe not quite as snazzy, but handy never the less. There's also tons of games and entertainment out there for them, too. PDA's have some distinct advantages over Cell Phone Technology, too. Hardware is often less expensive for them, There's plenty of free online information on them, and you're
arm is not being constantly twisted to sign up for expensive services. Also, modern cells often have lousy task managers that run down your battery in just 1 day. PDA's can go for days without being recharged sometimes. Some people even get a basic cell phone and use a PDA to manage all there other activities. These are hardy little devices that typically only die because the internal battery needs to be replaced and the OS needs to be reset. (or sometimes reinstalled) many of the operating
systems can now be downloaded for free and are often easier to install than an Android or Droid OS.

In this article, we revived a ZIRE-72 with the Palm OS. The battery was only $7.50 on Ebay and even came with the tools and instructions to get the job done. This was particularly important because the ZIRE-72 requires you to have a couple Torx Wrenches to open up the device. At first glance, the Torx Wrenches, or 'star wrenches', look like ordinary screwdrivers, but when you take a closer look, the tip is very different than a phillips or flathead screwdriver. This is a bonus since these tools may come in handy for other projects! It also came with a cloth to wipe down the device and some clear
screen protectors.





The first step is to remove the screws. Next, the bezel (the blue housing around the front of the PDA) needs to be removed to open up the device. Opening and closing the housing on the ZIRE-72 were the most difficult task. When openning the case, make sure you double check that ALL the screws are out since they are so small. Also, The side-rail that holds the sylus needs to be pulled out before the case will open all the way. (SEE the image below and note the black side-rail.)

Once the bezel is removed, you have to unplug the monitor from the harness and remove the monitor. The battery is hiding behind the monitor. Removing the buttons from the lower part of the housing seems to save some time as well. After removing the screws, housing, monitor, and buttons, you'll see the battery in the upper left side of the device. Pull the battery out of the device and then unplug the battery harness before completely removing the old battery. YOU'RE HALF WAY THERE!

Now just reverse the steps. Line up the battery so the harness will fit inside the housing containing the battery. Without pinching the battery cable, reinstall the battery. While trying to put the monitor back in, the buttons kept falling out of the lower section of the housing. We finally figured out a way to keep the bottons from shifting while finishing the assembly of the device. We placed a small piece of
shipping tape over the outside of the housing, then lined up the buttons and stuck them in the case. (held in place by the tape) SEE THE IMAGE BELOW FOR HOW TO PLACE THE TAPE AND
BUTTONS.

Once the monitor is in place you can plug the harness back into it. As you begin closing the housing, don't forget to line up the black side-bar on the right side of the case. The black side-bar is not only part of the frame, but also holds one of the stylus' for you. Next take one last look at the wires and corners of the case to make sure nothing gets pinched and the case is lined up properly. After the case is lined up, finish snapping it closed and replace the screws.

When charging the Battery, follow the direction that came with it. The first time you charge the PDA Device with a brand new battery, it's important to follow the specifications of that particular battery. Generally speaking, rechargable batteries should get a good, deep cycle charge the first time they are
used. This helps ensure the battery capacity and time between charges for the life of the battery.

HotSyncing this PDA was easy because the computer with the desktop software for the device was still at our finger tips. Once that battery was completely charged, we connected the PDA to the computer and the HotSync took place automatically. The information from the desktop computer replaced the settings and software that were lost because of the PDA's dead battery. It's now good to go. To connect the PDA to the computer, you need a standard Mini-USB to Standard-USB cable. These are easy to find and even come for free with most digital cameras.

Along with being able to connect to other devices be USB, PDAs may also have blue tooth or even WIFI. For approximately $12.00 we found a mini-WIFI card formed to fit the SD Card slot on the device. This was really a nice gadget since it's one of the few features initially missing on PDAs. Saddly, this particular WIFI card did not want to work with the ZIRE-72, but it is supposed to work on some of the later PDAs. That was really our only gripe with the ZIRE-72 was that we couldn't find a compatible WIFI card for this particular model. However, it's still a great device for basic day-to-day tasks, book keeping, voice memos, small digital photos, and many other tasks offered on modern cell phones. There's even free games available for it.
                             
                                                                                                     - NorthCountyPCSolutions

CLEANING OUT AN ATX PC TOWER

One of the best ways to prolong the life of your computer is to keep it clean inside. The hardware inside the computer needs to be routinely cleaned out for several reasons. Dust inside the tower can cause a static discharge which may damage microchips or other components of the machine. Excess dust inside the PC case can also restrict the flow of air going through the machine. This can cause an increase in heat because the fans can no longer circulate air through the system efficiently. Too much dust can even be a fire hazard. Collection of microbes inside a computer case can also irritate allergies or be a cause for infections.

When ever working on computer hardware, especially when opening the case, I recommend having some kind of safety training in eletricity / electronics prior to performing the task. Above all else, make sure the computer is turned off, unplugged, and that you have properly discharged the residual power by holding down the power switch for 30 seconds. (after it's been unplugged)  Remember that many of the chips in a computer are made of fragile components, such as CMOS. (Complimentary Metal Oxide Semi-Conductors) After you have followed ALL of the above safety guidelines, ground for fingers out on the metal chassis to eliminate any static from your finger tips. DO NOT TOUCH ANYWHERE THAT MAY CONTAIN A RESIDUAL VOLTAGE. Make sure you watch the entire video and follow ALL the safety advise. If you have any reservations or questions, please contact a professional technician before attempting this procedure. After opening the case, it may also be a good idea to grab your digital camera and take a few pictures of how everything is connected and hooked up inside the computer. Don't forget about the position of any dip switches either. Draw a diagram if you need to.

The video will take you through the steps to clean out the inside of your computer case. It's actually a pretty simple task and can often be done in 10 or 15 minutes. The supplies for this
job include a Phillips Screwdriver, Small Flashlight, Damp Cloth (not wet), Tweezers, Nail Clippers (or other small cutting device), Zip Ties, A Standard #2 Pencil (Only for the eraser, do not stick the other end in the computer), a can of Compressed Air, and some Hand Sanitizer with an antibacterial in it.

STEPS:  

1) Make sure the computer is turned off. 

2) Unplug the machine and disconnect ALL exterior cables, 

3)  Move the computer case to an appropriate cleaning area. (usually outside, in a clean, dry area with good lighting)  

4)  Blast the exterior as seen in the video. 

5)  Remove the cover on the LEFT side of the computer case and place is a clean, safe spot out of the way. 

6)  Blast out the inside of the computer as shown in the video. 

7)  Inspect the components of the computer i.e. discrete components, cables, harnesses, sockets, and other parts of the computer that may have irregularities or potential failures. Also, make sure that the memory and expansion cards are secured in their spots. IF YOU SEE A CAPACITOR WITH A BULDGE, DO NOT HOOK THE COMPUTER BACK UP TO A POWER SOURCE. The motherboard, sound card, or other device with the bulging capacitor is field replaceable, YOU ARE NOT!  

8)  If everything looks ok, replace the Cleaned side cover and blast the exterior one more time.

9)  With a damp cloth, wipe down only the large exterior surfaces of the case, but stay away from any openings, ports, or connectors. Use the blower to get those other areas. 

10) you should be ready to hook it back up!!!

It's tempting for some people to leave out the dust plates that cover the open slots not being occupied by expansion cards, but these plates help prevent dust from entering the case. These long, slim plates should also have one screw in the top to hold them in their slot. Foe more help learning how to clean out your PC Case, you also SEE OUR VIDEO


We provide this service for clients at NorthCountyPCSolutions.com  in the Northern Section of San Luis Obispo County, California, including Santa Margarita, Atascadero, Templeton, and Paso Robles.

MACRIUM REFLECT - SYSTEM BACKUP SOFTWARE - REVIEW

MACRIUM REFLECT - SYSTEM BACKUP SOFTWARE - REVIEW

The Macrium Reflect (FREE Edition) is a great way to backup your entire computer. The interface is intuitive and professional looking. The program is easy to use and has many surprising features for a Free version of this product. The only part that may be difficult for people just beginning their PC experience is the setting up of the Windows AIK (Automated Install Kit.) The Macrium Software requires the Technician to download the Windows AIK from Microsoft and be able to install it prior to creating the Recovery Media. Once the AIK is installed, Macruim Reflect automatically detects it and is able to create a PE environment that includes the Macrium Recovery Interface for restoring your system. The PE boots in a Macrium Menu Interface with the options waiting to go. 

The added bonuses of the payed editions are the ability to create various configurations for the PE Recovery Medium, Backup indivividual files and folders, Reinstall the backup to dissimilar hardware, and the ability to deploy the recovery image off a server. I believe the full version costs less than $40.00 and is well worth the few extra bucks for IT Technicians. This is really a fantastic program. For your System Backup & Recovery, or any other PC Repair Needs, feel free to contact NorthCountyPCSolutions.com in Atascadero, California.

See Video of Macrium Reflect in use