Tag: configure

How To Reduce Firefox Memory Usage

November 08, 2008 by Jason

For most users, Firefox doesn’t use an abnormally large amount of memory. For others, however, Firefox’s memory consumption is a major problem. Typical Firefox memory usage reported by Windows is around 50-100 MB, with virtual memory usage at 100-150 MB. These numbers will vary because Firefox is configured by default to use more memory on systems that have more memory available and less on systems with less.

1. System Extensions

WindowBlinds can dramatically increase memory use. To continue using WindowBlinds and Firefox without memory issues, add Firefox to WindowBlind’s exclusion list.

2. Download History

Firefox can slow down or hang if the download history is allowed to accumulate. Clear the download history (you may need to exit Firefox and delete the file “downloads.rdf” from the profile folder in some cases) and change this setting to solve the problem: Read More»

Posted in Firefox | 2 Comments »

How do I install Windows XP on a computer with Windows Vista pre-installed?

October 06, 2008 by Jason

If you wish to install Windows XP on a computer that comes with Windows Vista already installed then you will have to create a separate partition on your hard drive to install Windows XP onto. This effectively splits the hard drive into two, and keeps the different versions of Windows separate. To do this you need to open up the Computer Management screen by going to the Start menu and then right-clicking on Computer and selecting Manage.

From the Computer Management screen select Disk Management, right-click on your main hard disk where Windows Vista is installed and then select Shrink Volume. This opens up a window where you can choose how large you want the new drive partition for Windows XP to be. You need to select the size of the new partition carefully, as you will need enough space to be able to install Windows XP successfully (around 10 gigabytes) whilst leaving enough space for Windows Vista. After you have selected the appropriate amount of space click on the Shrink button to begin the process, and once that has completed you should be able to right-click on the new partition (which should be labelled “Unallocated free space”) and select New Simple Volume. Read More»

Posted in Windows Vista, Windows XP | 3 Comments »

Internet Connection Sharing Setup in Vista

September 20, 2008 by Jason

Vista lets you share your Internet connection with other computers on your network.
Logically enough, the feature that lets you do this is called Internet Connection Sharing, which gets abbreviated to ICS.

ICS can be a great way of saving time and money: instead of needing a modem and a phone line (or a DSL or cable modem) for each computer that needs Internet connectivity, you can get by with one modem and one phone line (or the equivalent). ICS is particularly good if you have a fast Internet connection such as a DSL or a cable modem that provides enough bandwidth for several computers under normal circumstances.

Set Up the Computer That Will Share the Connection

Start with the computer that will share the Internet connection. First set up your Internet connection,and then use the Network Setup Wizard to configure the computer by taking the following steps. Read More»

Posted in Internet, Windows Vista | No Comments »

Disk Swap to pc Performance

February 01, 2007 by Jason
  • Console-based OSs like DOS have only modest memory requirements. GUI-based operating systems like Windows needs lot of memory, much larger than the RAM that is usually installed on PCs. So, they use something called virtual memory. Here, a large file on the hard disk is used in conjunction with the RAM, which greatly expands the memory available to the OS. Only the data that is required at the given moment is loaded on the RAM; the rest is cached on the swap file. Just like any other file on a disk, the swap file can also get fragmented over time and OS might seem to slow down. To prevent the swap from breaking up, you can place it on a dedicated partition (just like in Linux). Set the size of this partition at about 2.5 times the size of your installed RAM and format it. Next, you need to make sure that the OS does not reserve space on this partition for deleted files because this partition is going to have only one file - the swap file. From the Recyle Bin context menu, choose Properties » Configure drives independently. Select the partition’s tab and select the Do not move files to the Recycle Bin. Remove files immediately when deleted option.

    • Read More»

    Posted in Computer, Hardware | 1 Comment »

    Stream Music Wirelessly with WMP11

    January 31, 2007 by Jason

    Stereo systems used to be collections of components that you maintained in the living room. Since the MP3 revolution, that’s no longer the case. Now it’s easier to collect all of your music in one place—your PC—and play it from there.

    Of course, once you move away from CDs, you quickly run into a problem: How do you listen to music in different rooms?

    With Microsoft’s new Windows Media Player 11 (WMP11) and its built-in Media Sharing feature, you can easily set up one computer as the server and have it stream music wirelessly to other devices around the house, such as a Microsoft Xbox 360 or a networked media hub. And starting with Windows Vista, you’ll also be able to stream music wirelessly between PCs from WMP11.

    Unfortunately, WMP’s PC-to-PC streaming doesn’t work in Windows XP. For that scenario, here’s a solution that’s almost as easy—sharing your music library across your home network, so that any machine can access it. It’s not technically beautiful, but it’s practical and glitch-free. Regardless of what devices you have on your network, here’s how to centralize your music system around WMP11.—Jamie Lendino, editor of Ziff Davis Smart Device Central (www.smartdevicecentral.com) Read More»

    Posted in Software | No Comments »