Tech Tip of the Day: How to make a Linux Virtual Machine using VMPlayer and Ubuntu

Description: Interested in what the Linux operating system is like? Don't want to affect your current system? Here is how to test a Linux OS in a virtual machine format without replacing your current operating system.

1. First you will want to download VMPlayer, a virtual machine tool, which can be done from VMware's website:
   
   http://www.vmware.com/products/player/
   
   
2. Once downloaded, you will want to download a Linux distribution file - we will be creating an Ubuntu virtual machine. Ubuntu can be downloaded via their site at the link below:
   
   http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop
   
   
3. Once the ISO (Image File) has been downloaded, we will want to open up VMPlayer and choose the option for Create a New Virtual Machine.
   
   
   
   
4. A new window will appear, choose the option for Installer Disc image file. Press the Browse option and locate your ISO file.
   
   
   
   
5. Click Next; choose Linux as the Guest Operating System. Choose the version as Ubuntu.
   
   
   
   
6. Give the virtual machine a name and choose where you want your virtual machine to be located.
   
   
   
   
7. Choose the maximum disc space that you want to give the virtual machine - the virtual machine will actually grow, but will run out of space once you reach your maximum limit, so be sure to allow some room for it to grow.
   
   
   
   
8. Click Next; verify your settings and Finish.
   
   
   
   
9. VMware Player will now boot into Linux - if it asks to install VMware tools, click Yes and install all updates it requires.

For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

Addressing the "Operating System is not up to date" notification in ESET NOD32 Antivirus/ESET Smart Security 5

ESET NOD32 Antivirus and ESET Smart Security keep track of whether or not your operating system is up to date. What this means is that when Windows Updates are available, ESET will provide a notification. Keeping your Operating System up to date is as important to your security as keeping your antivirus program up to date. This document will show you what the message looks like and what to do when it appears.

1. Check the ESET icon in the lower right-hand corner of the screen. When this message appears it will remain green or blue, but become the letter "i".
2. Double click the icon to open the ESET Window. When the window appears, you will receive the Home screen and the "Operating system is not up to date" message.
   
   


3. Click the "here" link at the end of the paragraph describing the problem.
   
   


4. This screen may not look exactly the same, but will show the updates available for Windows. Click Run System Update to proceed.
   
   


5. Click Install Updates on the Windows Update screen.
   
   


6. Once that process is complete, the error message will disappear from the ESET window and the ESET icon will return to normal. 
   
   

For more assistance contact Technical Support here.

Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

Use shortcut keys as an alternative to the mouse when working in Windows. You can open, close, and navigate the Start menu, desktop, menus, dialog boxes, and Web pages using keyboard shortcuts. Keyboard shortcuts may also make it easier for you to interact with your computer. Menus may have an Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu; with the menu list open, pressing the letter will carry out the corresponding command.

General keyboard shortcuts
Press	To
CTRL+C	Copy.
CTRL+X	Cut.
CTRL+V	Paste.
CTRL+Z	Undo.
DELETE	Delete.
SHIFT+DELETE	Delete selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin.
CTRL while dragging an item	Copy selected item.
CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item	Create shortcut to selected item.
F2	Rename selected item.
CTRL+RIGHT ARROW	Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word.
CTRL+LEFT ARROW	Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word.
CTRL+DOWN ARROW	Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph.
CTRL+UP ARROW	Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph.
CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys	Highlight a block of text.
SHIFT with any of the arrow keys	Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text within a document.
CTRL+A	Select all.
F3	Search for a file or folder.
ALT+ENTER	View properties for the selected item.
ALT+F4	Close the active item, or quit the active program.
ALT+Enter	Displays the properties of the selected object.
ALT+SPACEBAR	Opens the shortcut menu for the active window.
CTRL+F4	Close the active document in programs that allow you to have multiple documents open simultaneously.
ALT+TAB	Switch between open items.
ALT+ESC	Cycle through items in the order they were opened.
F6	Cycle through screen elements in a window or on the desktop.
F4	Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer.
SHIFT+F10	Display the shortcut menu for the selected item.
ALT+SPACEBAR	Display the System menu for the active window.
CTRL+ESC	Display the Start menu.
ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name	Display the corresponding menu.
F10	Activate the menu bar in the active program.
RIGHT ARROW	Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu.
LEFT ARROW	Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu.
F5	Refresh the active window.
BACKSPACE	View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer.
ESC	Cancel the current task.
Press and hold a SHIFT key when you insert a CD into the CD-ROM drive	Prevent the CD from automatically playing.
Dialog box keyboard shortcuts
Press	To
CTRL+TAB	Move forward through tabs.
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB	Move backward through tabs.
TAB	Move forward through options.
SHIFT+TAB	Move backward through options.
ALT+Underlined letter	Carry out the corresponding command or select the corresponding option.
ENTER	Carry out the command for the active option or button.
SPACEBAR	Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box.
Arrow keys	Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons.
F1	Display Help.
F4	Display the items in the active list.
BACKSPACE	Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box.
Windows Explorer keyboard shortcuts
Press	To
END	Display the bottom of the active window.
HOME	Display the top of the active window.
NUM LOCK+ASTERISK on numeric keypad (*)	Display all subfolders under the selected folder.
NUM LOCK+PLUS SIGN on numeric keypad (+)	Display the contents of the selected folder.
NUM LOCK+MINUS SIGN on numeric keypad (-)	Collapse the selected folder.
LEFT ARROW	Collapse current selection if it's expanded, or select parent folder.
RIGHT ARROW	Display current selection if it's collapsed, or select first subfolder.
Help and Support keyboard shortcuts
Press	To
ALT+SPACEBAR	Display the System menu.
SHIFT+F10	Display the Help and Support shortcut menu.
ALT+TAB	Switch between the Help and Support Center and other open windows.
CTRL+TAB	Switch to the next pane.
CTRL+SHIFT+TAB	Switch to the previous pane.
UP ARROW	Move up one item in the  Index, search results, or list of Help topics.
DOWN ARROW	Move down one item in the Index, search results, or list of Help topics.
PAGE UP	Move up one page in the Index, search results, or list of Help topics.
PAGE DOWN	Move down one page in the Index, search results, or list of Help topics.
F6	Switch focus between the different panes in Help and Support Center.
UP ARROW or DOWN ARROW	Scroll through a topic.
CTRL+HOME	Move to the beginning of a topic.
CTRL+END	Move to the end of a topic.
CTRL+A	Select all text in a pane.
CTRL+P	Print a topic.
ALT+LEFT ARROW	Move back to the previously viewed topic.
ALT+RIGHT ARROW	Move forward to the next (previously viewed) topic.
ALT+F4	Close Help and Support Center.

How to Import Internet Explorer Favorites and Other Items into Mozilla Firefox 4

1. Open Mozilla Firefox 4.
   
   
   
   
2. Push the Alt key to display the Menu Bar. Then, click File » Import.
   
   
   
   
3. On the Import Wizard window, click Microsoft Internet Explorer » Next.
   
   
   
   
4. The items available to import will be displayed. Click on the box next to any item you do not wish to import and click the Next button.
   
   
   
   
5. Below is an explanation of the information in each of the items that could be displayed. The information is per the Mozilla Firefox support website:
   
   • Internet Options: General settings, including your home page. Since Firefox and Internet Explorer have different features, Firefox won't be able to import all of your settings.
   • Cookies: Small bits of information stored on your computer by some websites that are used to keep you logged in, store your options, or do other things.
   • Browsing History: Information on the sites you have visited.
   • Saved Form History: Text you entered in text fields on websites.
   • Saved Passwords: Usernames and passwords for websites you told Internet Explorer to remember. Note that you can't import passwords from Internet Explorer 7 or higher.
   • Favorites: Web pages you have saved in your Internet Explorer favorites.
   
   
6. The items that were imported will be shown on the Import Complete window. Click Finish.
   
   
   
   
7. To display your bookmarks, click the Bookmarks icon in the upper right of Mozilla Firefox, and then click From Internet Explorer.
   
   

Reference:

Mozilla Firefox. Importing favorites and other data from Internet Explorer. http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Importing%20favorites%20and%20other%20data%20from%20Internet%20Explorer

How to Disable Windows Firewall in Windows XP

Windows Firewall can sometimes prevent files from being downloaded or interfere with a third-party firewall. This guide will walk-through how to disable Windows Firewall in Windows XP.

1. Click the Start button in the lower left-hand corner of the screen and select Control Panel on the right half of the menu.
   
   
   
2. The Control Panel should open in Category view. If the Control Panel does not open in Category view, click the Switch to Category View button.
   
   
   
3. Click the Security Center category.
   
   
   
4. Select the Windows Firewall icon below the Manage security settings for: heading.
   
   
   
5. Switch the firewall to Off and click OK on the Windows Firewall window.
   
   
   
6. The Windows Firewall is now off. Close the Security Center and Control Panel windows.

How to Add or Remove Operating System features in Windows 7

This how-to article details how to add or remove operating system features in Windows 7. This can be useful if there are features unnecessarily installed in Windows 7, or if there are features missing or required.

1. Click on the Start button in the bottom left, then choose Control Panel.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Click on Programs  on the bottom left.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Click on Turn Windows features on or off and allow or grant permission if prompted.
   
   
   
   
   
4. To remove an unwanted Windows feature, uncheck the box next to it and click OK.
5. To add a feature, check the box next to it and click OK.
   
   
   
   
   

How to Determine the Type of and Maximum Supported Memory for Your Computer

Upgrading the amount of memory installed on your computer often improves system performance. However, installing the wrong type of memory will usually result in the computer not functioning at all. If you install more memory than the system can support, it may result with the same issue.

There are two important features to look for when upgrading the memory: what will your hardware support and operating system limitations. With regard to operating system limitations, Windows and Mac 32-bit operating systems will not support more than approximately 3 gigabytes of memory. Linux 32-bit will support more than 3 gigabytes of memory, but requires recompiling the kernel.

For Windows and Mac operating systems, it is a limitation of the operating system and can only be overcome by changing to a 64-bit operating system. Windows XP uses a 32-bit operating system, with very few exceptions. (Reference: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/32-bit-and-64-bit-Windows-frequently-asked-questions) Windows Vista and Windows 7 can be either 32-bit or 64-bit. Mac OSX 10.5 (Leopard) and above are 64-bit operating systems but earlier versions are 32-bit.

To determine if Windows Vista or Windows 7 is 32-bit or 64-bit:

1. Left-click the Start button.
2. Right-click Computer.
   
   
   
   
3. Left-click Properties. The System Properties are displayed and will show the version of the operating system.
   
   
   

Make note of the Installed Memory (RAM) immediately above the System Type. This will tell you how much memory the system recognizes. NOTE: This information can be affected by memory used for the video.

Once you know what your operating system is the next step is to determine what your hardware will support. There are different ways to do this:

• If you know the manufacturer and model of the computer or motherboard, you can look the information up on the manufacturer’s web site. The information is typically in the technical specifications for that model. Below is an example of the information from Hewlett Packard’s web site:
  
  
  
  
  Note that it shows the memory that came installed on the computer and the type of RAM that is compatible (in this case PC3-8500 and PC3-10600), how many slots are available, and that it is Dual channel. Dual channel memory should be matched for best performance, although it is not required for the computer to operate.
  
• An alternative to the manufacture site or user’s manual is to use a system scanning utility. An example of this is the Crucial memory scan utility available at www.crucial.com. Below is an example of the output from using the Crucial utility:
  
  
  

Once you know your operating system, the type of memory you have, what the maximum supported is, and whether it is dual channel or not, you can purchase your memory.For information on physically installing the memory go to Micro Center Tech Support's Tech Center for more helpful resources: "How to Install RAM Memory", http://www.microcentertech.com/tech_center/DB/read_article.php?faqid=./HowTos/HOW6000032B.htm

ESET Notification: Operating System Is Not Up To Date

1. The ESET icon has turned orange and opening the ESET window displays:
   
   
   
   
   
2. There is not a problem with the ESET program The ESET security programs show an orange ESET icon when important updates are available for the operating system by default.
3. Click on the orange here in the message to open the ESET listing of available updates.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Click Run System Update button to open the Windows Update.
   
   
   
   
   
5. The important updates are typically fixes for security weaknesses or known flaws in the operating system. These are what should be installed. Click the Install updates button to install the important updates.
6. If you wish to disable this feature in the ESET security program follow the procedures on the ESET web site at: http://kb.eset.com/esetkb/index?page=content&id=SOLN2196&actp=search&viewlocale=en_US&searchid=1301085084376

How to add a User Account in Windows 7

This article details how to add a limited user or administrator account to a Windows 7 system. This can be useful when adding users to the system and will allow each of them to have their own customizable interface.

1. Log on to an administrator account.
NOTE: If unsure which is an administrator account, follow the next two steps.
2. Click on the Start button in the bottom left corner of the screen.
   
   
   
   
   
3. In the Search Programs and Files box, type Add user.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Click on the Add or remove user accounts option at the top.
   
   
   
   
   
5. Click on Create User Account in the middle of the newly opened screen.
   
   
   
   NOTE: If this option is not available, that means the account that is in use is a limited user account.
   
6. Enter the name for the account (usually the name of the user, but it can be whatever is preferred.)
   
   
   
   
   
7. Select Standard User or Administrator. Read the criteria on the page to determine which should be used.
   
   
   
   
   
8. Click on Create Account in the bottom right.
   
   
   
9. The Account is now created. If a password is desired, click on the newly created account.
   
   
   
   
   
10. Click on Create a Password and fill in the information.
    
    
    
    
    

How to Open Elevated Command Prompt with Administrator Privileges in Windows 7

Certain tasks in Windows require running Command Line commands with administrator privileges. In order to do this, you need to be able to elevate the command prompt to administrator privileges. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Click on Start, then All Programs, then Accessories.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Right-click on Command Prompt.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Click on Run as administrator.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Now you should get a command line prompt, allowing you to run text commands with administrator privileges.