Computer Technology

Advantages of Diskless Setup

Disadvantages of Diskless Set up

Section 1 – Prerequisites

• Go to your vendor’s web site and download the appropriate x86 and x64 print drivers. For my needs, I downloaded the drivers for Windows 7 (32bit) and Windows 2012 (64 bit).
• Next, extract the driver files to subfolders. In my case, the HP files I downloaded are self-extracting files. But be sure you uncheck the option to run the install immediately after extracting the files.
• Finally, before proceeding, make sure you know the IP address of your network printer.

Section 2 – Add the Network Printer

• Go to Control Panel –> View Devices and Printers (under Hardware)
• Click on Add a Printer. It will scan for new printers, and we should expect that it will not find any. 
• Click on The printer that I want isn’t listed link.
• On the next screen, click on the Add a local or network printer as an administrator link.
• The scan will run again, and (again) we will click on The printer that I want isn’t listed link.
• Select the Add a printer using a TCP/IP address or hostname option, then click Next.    
• On the next screen, enter the printer’s IP address in the Hostname or IP address field, and click Next.

• Wait while Windows looks for the printer. If the printer has a built in network adapter, you should see an appropriate Printer Class Driver selected.
• However, in my case, the Laserjet 4100 is connected to the network via a D-Link print server adapter. Windows lists it as a generic network port and ask that I confirm that I had entered the correct IP address. Let’s click Next and it will rescan that IP address again.
• This time it will ask me to identify the type of printer. I scroll through and locate the HP Laserjet 4100 Class Driver
• Be sure to select Do not share this printer for now and click Next. We can share the printer later on.
• Press Finish.

Section 3 – Install the required Print Drivers

• Open up the Devices and Printers window, select your printer, and then click on Print server properties
• Click on the Drivers tab, and then click on Change Driver Settings. The window will refresh.
• Install the x64 (64 bit) print driver
• Select the Printer we are installing, and then click Add.
• This will start the Add Printer Driver Wizard. Click Next.
• Select the x64 box (leaving the x86 box unchecked) and click Next
• Click Have Disk… and then click Browse… and locate the x64 print driver folder. For this HP printer, there was a list of .inf files available I followed Robert’s suggestion, and selected the first one in the list (immediately below the Drivers folder)
• I then select the HP Universal Printing PCL 6 driver, click Next and then Finish.
• But wait, we still have to install the 32 bit driver in a similar fashion! 
• Install the x85 (32-bit) print driver 
• So repeat steps 3-7, but check the x86 box and install the x86 driver.

Section 4 – Change the Selected Print Drivers

• Return back to the Devices and Printers window
• Double click on your printer, and then double click on Customize your printer
• Click on the Advanced tab, and change the print driver to the one we just installed.
• If you wish, you can also click on the Sharing tab, and make the printer available.

The Windows Server 2012  Dashboard provides a simple and user-friendly interface for managing user accounts. To add a user account to Windows Server 2012 , perform the following steps:

1. Open the Dashboard.
2. Click Users on the navigation bar.
3. Click Add a user account in the Tasks pane.
4. Follow the prompts in the Add a User Account Wizard to create the user account.

To remove a user account from Windows Server 2012 , perform the following steps:

1. Open the Dashboard.
2. Click Users on the navigation bar.
3. Select the user account that you wish to remove.
4. In the Tasks pane, click Remove the user account.
5. Follow the prompts in the Delete a User Account Wizard to remove the user account. The wizard  provides the option to delete files associated with the user, including the user's redirected folder  and  File History backups, when the account is deleted. To retain these files on the server, make sure the corresponding box is unchecked.

Windows Server 2012: A Short Introduction

A customer of ours recently called to discuss the release of the new Windows Server 2012 edition (called Server 8 in pre-release guises), due out later this year. His questions were focused on the expected impact such a release would have and whether Microsoft’s marketing hype that it would ‘redefine‘ the server OS category was kosher.

Rewind back to 2008 and the release of the first Crucial VPS’s in Australia. We offered the then new Windows Server 2008 on our new to market Windows VPS. Server 2008 replaced the long-standing and widely used Server 2003 and utilised Windows Longhorn architecture, this release was seen as an evolution in terms of non-Unix server OS releases.

Windows Server 2008 R2 soon followed and was built on the Windows NT 6.1 core, the same OS core used on the new desktop version of Windows called ‘7’, which was released in October 2009. Windows Server R2 introduced many improved features and enhancements including new functionality for Active Directory, new virtualization and management features, version 7.5 of IIS (the Web server), and support for up to 256 logical processors.

Now with Windows Server 2012 about to grace the virtual shelves, what benefit does it have to the normal hosting customer?

Windows Server 2012 has been built in response the changing dynamic between the user and the way the user interacts with computer or server interfaces. Microsoft has said themselves that “People, not files, are the centre of activity” in reference to building Windows 8 (desktop version) on their developer blog, and more to the point; this means we have the new Metro interface standard on Windows Server 2012.



Key points for Server 2012 are:

– Greater Hyper-V Virtualisation mechanisms
– Less complex networking facility
– Streamlined security and identity management
– Storage and overhead management improvements
– Shift to cloud emphasis and connectivity in underlying functionality

As an IAAS provider we offer streamlined hosting solutions to our customers, allowing us to take the overheads of network management, OS software and server hardware away from the client. Our Cloud VPS solution allows SMEs and hosting customers alike to fire up Virtual Server and launch their campaign, website or web-based app with ease in a short time frame.

The key benefits of Server 2012 will have greater precedence for IT companies or Corporates who will manage their own network and infrastructure, rather than hosting customers who purchase infrastructure as a service. Of course, we all know how glacial larger companies can move in response to upgrading their system architecture and software. At the end of the day, most of our customers will may have little reason to upgrade existing servers upon release of Server 2012 (pending availability on our network).

However it’s always nice to have something new to look at I guess.

When you're attempting to update your Windows installation to the latest version you may come across this error if you're trying to install the software remotely from bootable media, such as a USB drive.

This will usually happen if the current version of Windows that you're running hasn't been fully updated yet. To make sure that you're running the latest possible version of Windows for your machine you'll have to check for any Windows Updates and download any that are available. This should happen automatically but we'll show you how to get there manually too.

1. Head down to your search bar at the bottom left of your screen, and type in 'Windows Update'.
2. Select the top search result, and a window will appear.
3. At the top of this window, there will be a 'Check for Updates' button.
4. Click this button and Windows will manually check if there are any updates available for your machine.
5. If there are updates ready to be downloaded or installed, complete this process by following the  instructions on your screen.

Most Common Problems With LCD Monitors

Computer monitors are fairly simple, in use if not in actual construction: plug ’em in, turn ’em on, look at your computer stuff on the brighter part. But misleadingly easy as they might seem, there’s a lot of stuff going on inside that blank plastic case…and a lot of stuff that can go wrong.

Unfortunately, most of that stuff requires either a certified repair or a complete replacement to fix. Unless you’re especially handy with electronics and you just happen to have access to cheap replacement parts, it’s usually better to either return a monitor to the manufacturer (if it’s under warranty) or simply buy a new one. Even so, here are the most common ailments for modern LCD monitors, and what can be done to fix them…or not.

Stuttering or Flickering

If your monitor’s screen is often flashing or stuttering, there are a few different problems that you could be facing. It might be something as simple as a loose or faulty video cable. So first, tighten down the cable on both the monitor and the computer end (making sure to completely tighten any retention screws, if your cable has them) or simply replace the cable. The same thing goes for the power cable: make sure it’s secure at both ends, and if the problem persists, replace it if possible.

An incorrect refresh rate setting can also cause flickering. The refresh rate is the number of times the computer sends an image to the monitor per second, expressed in hertz. Most LCD monitors use either 59 or 60 hertz, though 75Hz, 120Hz, and 144Hz are also found on premium monitors. Go into your operating system’s display settings (right-click desktop and head to Display settings > Display adapter properties > Monitor in Windows 10) to make sure the right hertz setting is applied—you may need to update your video drivers as well.

Unfortunately, most other flickering symptoms are caused by a power deficiency somewhere in the monitor itself. It’s possible you could be drawing too much power from one of your home’s electrical circuits or overloading your surge protector—just move the power adapter to another plug to test this. But it’s more likely that there’s a loose or malfunctioning component in the screen assembly itself. If that’s the case, repair or replacement are the answers.

Vertical Lines

Black or single-colored lines on LCD screens are caused by a lot of different issues, but if the standard fixes outlined in the flickering section above don’t fix them (check your video and power cables for problems, install new drivers), it’s probably a physical defect in the screen itself. Try your monitor on another computer or laptop to see if the problem persists; if it does, you’re probably looking at a replacement, since the error is almost certainly in the LCD panel (the most expensive component of the monitor).

Dead or Stuck Pixels
A “dead” pixel is a single dot on your LCD screen that doesn’t illuminate, showing up as one or more black squares. “Stuck” pixels are similar, but instead of showing black they’re stuck on a single color that doesn’t match the computer screen’s image, typically either red, green, or blue.

There isn’t much you can do for a dead pixel—it’s a physical malfunction of the screen panel. Luckily one or two dead pixels usually doesn’t mean you have to throw the whole monitor away; it’s certainly possible to work around it or ignore it. You can also look into a warranty replacement, though many monitor manufacturers won’t replace a screen until multiple pixels have gone out.

A stuck pixel may be a different matter. Depending on exactly how the problem is manifesting, it might be possible to get the pixel back into working order. There are various techniques for this, ranging from physically “massaging” the screen panel itself to running programs that rapidly cycle a portion of the screen through the color spectrum. You can try out some of these solutions as outlined in our guide to stuck pixels, but be warned, in my personal experience, it’s exceedingly rare to find a lasting solution to a stuck pixel.

If you forgot your Microsoft account password, follow these steps.
If you don’t have a Microsoft account and forgot your local account password, you can’t recover it. Instead, you’ll need to reset your PC.

Note: If you’re using Windows 10, version 1803, and added security questions to your local account to help you reset your password, select Reset password on the sign-in screen. (This link appears after you enter an incorrect password.) Then enter the answers to the security questions and choose a new password.

Warning: Following these steps will remove all of your data, programs, and settings.

1.Start your PC and select the Power  icon in the bottom right-hand corner of the lock screen.
2.While holding down the Shift key, select Restart.
3.On the Boot options menu, select Troubleshoot > Reset this PC > Remove everything.
4.Your PC will restart and will reset itself.