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CNCTC Articles- Excellence in IT TRAINING


Importance of Equipment for the IT Department

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 29 Mar, 2016
As an IT professional, it would be your responsibility to maintain all computer related equipment inside your office. It might sound like a pretty easy job but believe me or not, being part of an IT department plays a very critical role in an organization..

Working in an IT department would need good analytical and problem solving skills. It would also require someone who could work in a fast pace environment especially for those companies that rely on computers for their business.

As we all know, skills would be very important but in emergency situations for the IT department, skills would not be enough without the proper equipment.

Working with the I.T infrastructure team might be fun and challenging but again, this kind of job is very critical. A minute of downtime might already have a big effect for the company.

In this article, I would be listing down some of the most important equipment that the IT department must have for them to react well in every situation. Troubleshooting might be able to do the job but in some cases where time is a factor, replacing a defective equipment might be more efficient.

Network Peripherals - One of the most important things to have......... ... continue |
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Major Update For Windows 10

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 21 Mar, 2016
A few months ago, Microsoft released their latest operating system which is the Windows 10. As we all know, all their products undergo beta testing but it does not mean that it is already error free. As a windows 10 user, I also experienced some bugs that were present on their first release.

I remember years back that Vista was introduced on the market but it was discontinued and was tagged by users as a failed product. Vista contained severe bugs that even the markers of the product discontinued support.

The debut of Windows 10 was a thumbs up but many have not yet upgraded their systems because according to them, there is a big possibility that it still contains bugs. They were actually right but I was firm on my stand that I will immediately upgrade my Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 once it is already available.

After weeks of waiting after the global release, it finally notified me for upgrade and right after that, I tried navigating it and noticed that after the upgrade to Windows 10, my computer's response is slower than usual. After a while, I noticed that the problem is slowly getting back and it even affected my... ... continue |
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Monitoring Your Employees the Easy Way

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 21 Mar, 2016
Monitoring your employees it not an easy task to do especially if you have lots of them. An IT team might be there to monitor them but the problem is, employees could easily sneak in and out to try to bypass the blockers and everything.

An IT team might be available at your office 24/7 but they could not be able to monitor them one by one especially if they are busy doing something. In this article, I will be sharing about a program that you could possibly use which could help you monitoring your employees 24/7.

I have tried several programs but this would be one of the top when it comes to monitoring employees. The program is called, Activtrak.

Activtrak is actually a program that could monitor the things that the employees are doing on their computer regardless if they are using a proxy or even a VPN. It is capable of taking screenshots of a desktop when it detects that a specific site or program is listed on the alarm list. When an alarm is triggered, it could do things depending on your choice. You can automatically close the program that the employee is opening or you could inform them... ... continue |
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Productivity Tips For Your I.T Department

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 21 Mar, 2016
Having an IT team is a must for every company especially for those who rely on computers for their business transactions. Having an IT team means that you will be having someone to assist your company when it comes to IT related stuff. It is not new that IT professionals must be able to be technically inclined in order for them to work better and to be able to cope up with the demands of the business. In this article, I will be sharing some tips on how to make your IT team more productive and efficient.

Teamwork - This is actually one of the most important thing that the IT department must have. Working as one will result to good things. Productivity will increase and pending tasks will be finished faster. Always remember the saying that "two minds are better than one"

Log Sheet - In order to be efficient, logging everything would be very helpful especially for errors / problems. This way, you would already know what troubleshooting step you will conduct when you know the history of it.

Reports - Besides the log sheet, sending reports to each other would be a big help for you. This would... ... continue |
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Telstra to enter PH

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 06 Jan, 2016
There is news circulating around the web that Telstra, one the biggest telecom company in Australia is planning to enter the Philippines to provide blazing internet speeds in the country. If ever that it is true, it would be the end of hearing about how slow the internet in the Philippines is.

Most of you might not be aware that here in the Philippines, we are on the second to the bottom place when it comes to the ranking of the fastest internet in Asia. If you'll be comparing the prices of internet connections here and in other countries, you'll be surprised how expensive our internet is. Below are some of the countries which includes their rankings.

Top 5 (Fastest)

1. Singapore 122.43 Mbps

2. Hongkong 102.96 Mbps

3. Japan 82.12 Mbps

4. South Korea 59.77 Mbps

5. Macau 50.66 Mbps

Bottom 5 (Slowest)

18. Indonesia 6.68 Mbps

19. Myanmar 6.54 Mbps

20. Pakistan 4.00 Mbps

21. Philippines 3.64 Mbps

22. Afghanistan 2.53 Mbps

From the said ranking, we could already say that our current service providers need to provide better internet / service in order for the Philippines to climb up the rank.

As an IT professional, I know how important it is to have a fast and stable connection especially for offices.... ... continue |
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Evernote, the best companion for work and school

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 15 Aug, 2015
At work and at school, we are all aware that taking down notes is always an issue due to the fact that we always misplace a sheet of power that we use. Using a notepad on your computer might be the solution but still, you can't access your notes when you are outside which forces you to go home and access it. For those who are using their gadgets to take down notes and reminders, it would also be possible but again, transferring it to your computer might also need a couple of steps to accomplish.

In this article, I will be discussing about a program that might really be helpful both for students and professionals which is called Evernote.

Some of you might have heard about it but was not able to use it or even test it. Evernote is a very good program when it comes to taking down notes, setting reminders or even sharing ideas with other people. Evernote is not your typical notepad that could just save the items that you have typed. One of the best features of this program that I really love most is that it could be synced to your computers, mobile devices... ... continue |
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Firsthand review for Microsoft's Windows 10

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 15 Aug, 2015
It's been almost two weeks already since Microsoft released their latest operating system which is Windows 10 and as we all know, many are excited to download it for their personal computers. Microsoft of course was not able to finish all the updates for users in a single day and that it why it took a while before all who reserved a copy was able to download and upgrade their computers.

Personally, I was part of those users who were able to reserve a copy for its release but it was only the other day that I was able to download and install it. Now that I have already experienced the new OS, I will now be giving my personal review of some of its features.

I am currently using the Home edition version of Windows 10 and from my observation; they have redesigned it for it to feel and look new. If you will be using it for the first time, there is a big possibility that you'll be a bit confused due to its new look especially if you have been using Windows 7 or 8 for a while already.

We are all aware that the famous start button is... ... continue |
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Triple screen for Laptop Computers

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 31 Jul, 2015
Working using a laptop is sometimes hard due to the fact that the screen size is a bit small especially when you are multi-tasking. The very common laptop screen size nowadays is ranging from 13" to 15". For those who are always on the go, a lightweight but powerful laptop might be your preference in buying one. Nowadays where laptops are getting smaller and thinner without compromising performance, it would not be that hard for you to choose one.

For laptop users that want to extend their desktop screen, plugging an external monitor is always the best solution out there but make sure that you have set it to extend your desktop and not just to duplicate the display. Some of you might not be contented in using a single external monitor and you want to add another one. It is still possible but you might need to buy another connector / adaptor for this.

As a laptop user myself, having an extended screen is really important especially when you have several windows that are open. For those who are always on the go that wants to have extended screens, it would be impossible to bring their external monitors where... ... continue |
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Texas, the newest location for Facebook's Data Center

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 31 Jul, 2015
Facebook, the leading social networking site has announced that they will be putting up their newest data center and its location would be at Forth Worth, Texas. The said data center would be the fifth data center of Facebook. The other four data centers are located at Altoona, Iowa; Prineville, Oregon; Forest City, North Carolina and at Lulea, Sweden. We are aware that the climate in Texas is really not that cool but according to reports, Facebook is aware of it and they are prepared for it.

The fifth data center would be used to better cater the needs of their users. As we all know, Facebook started 2004 and is now on the top of the list when it comes to social media sites and as of the moment, the number of users of the said social networking site is still continuously growing. We could even say that most computer users have their own Facebook account.

The said project would be their latest data center and it would also be using renewable energy. Putting up a data center in an area where the climate is a bit hot might be very intriguing to others but then again, they... ... continue |
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The comfort of working at home for IT professionals

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 08 Jul, 2015
For IT professionals, it is very common for them to just stay at home to work. Most IT companies allow that as long as you could produce the outputs that are needed from you. There are also some companies that would ask you to report to the office for a couple of days and would allow you to work at home for the remaining days.

Some of you might be wondering if how they could do that. Actually, working at home might be comfortable but distractions will always be present and it is up to you if how you would handle it. Working at home requires you to have a computer and a fast internet connection. When you are an IT professional who is working at home, there is a big possibility that the company has issued you a service laptop. Some companies might even pay for the internet connection of their employees.

There would also be times that you would be working at home due to the bad weather or unavoidable problems. Now, it is already the start of the rainy season and it is very possible that you just need to work at home due to the fact... ... continue |
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Protecting your computers during the rainy season

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 08 Jul, 2015
We are now on the season where rains are starting to fall. It is now time where we need to bring our umbrellas and our jackets to protect ourselves. But did you know that computer needs to be protected too? Most of you might wonder why, how and is it even necessary?

In this article, I will be explaining why your computer needs to be protected during this rainy season.

During the hot weather, it is very common to experience overheating computers due to the fact that it is very hot outside. Overheating may not be a problem anymore but there might be new issues that might occur and below would be some of them.

Power outages - During the rainy season, it is very common to experience power interruptions or outages. The said outages might cause problems to your computer due to electric spikes. The best way to prevent this kind of problem is to have a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) or an AVR (Automatic voltage regulator). With the said devices, electricity would still be normal even after brownouts or fluctuations. If you are using a UPS, it could still hold the power for a couple of minutes depending on the kind... ... continue |
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Lenovo Flex 2 review

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 30 Jun, 2015
Years back, when tablets were still out of the picture, laptops were used by those who are always on the go. A laptop is a portable computer that you can bring wherever you go. As we all know, laptops nowadays are starting to become thinner and thinner but is also becoming faster than ever. If you'll be comparing it to the time where laptop computers were first introduced, you'll notice a very big difference when it comes to the design, weight, size and speed.

Laptops are being updated every now and then. Several features has been added which includes face detection, biometric scanner, smart card reader and more. There are several laptop brands like Acer, Asus, Dell, HP and Lenovo in the market and they also have their own trademarks when it comes to designs and features.

In this article, I will be giving a review for a certain product of Lenovo called Flex 2. The said laptop was released a year ago but until now, the said laptop is still on the market due to its nice features and design.

The flex 2 laptop has a feature called dual mode where it functions both as a laptop and a tablet.... ... continue |
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Microsoft's million dollar deal with US Navy

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 25 Jun, 2015
It is not new that Microsoft has stopped supporting Windows XP which has been around for more than a decade. So what does it mean when they say that they stop supporting a certain OS? It simply means that Microsoft will stop releasing patches and security updates for the said OS. As we all know, it would be a big risk to use a computer without updated patches. Microsoft has ended their support for XP last year but still, many are still using the said operating system.

It is not cheap to migrate from windows XP to Windows 7 or 8 especially for companies but money is not always the problem. In the US, the US Navy is still using Windows XP for their warfare systems. It is not because they could not afford it because as we all know that they do, but the problem is, the system that they are using are reliant on Windows XP.

As I have said, it would be very dangerous to use an operating system without updated patches and you might be thinking that why they are still using Windows XP. Are they using it even if Microsoft is not releasing... ... continue |
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Things you need to check before migrating to Windows 10

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 25 Jun, 2015
It is already confirmed that Windows 10 will already be available for download this coming July 29th. It will be free to download for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users and make sure that you will be downloading it within a year in order to get the free upgrade.

Some of you might ask if would it support your existing hardware or do you need to upgrade certain components in order to upgrade to Windows 10. The answer is, NO, you don't need to update your current hardware because the requirements for Windows 10 are almost identical with Windows 7. Below would be the detailed specifications for both Windows 7 and Windows 10.

Windows 7 requirements

-1 GHz or Faster 32 bit(x86) or 64 bit (x64) processor
-1 GB RAM for 32 bit and 2 GB RAM for 64 bit
-16 GB hard disk space for 32 bit and 20GB for 64 bit
-DirectX 9 Graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

Windows 10 requirements
-1 Ghz or faster processor
-1 GB RAM for 32 bit and 2 GB RAM for 64 bit
-16GB hard disk space
-Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver
-Microsoft account and Internet access.

As I have said, the requirements are identical and... ... continue |
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Software Licensing importance

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 25 Jun, 2015
Most of you might not be aware that computers also have licenses that are needed to keep a computer running. Most users does not care as long as they could type, browse the net or to play games but actually, licensing is very important when it comes to computers.

A license is a proof that a company grants you access to a specific software or application. When you are using certain software that has no license or you did not purchase any license, it means that the software that you are using is counterfeit or pirated. Some of you might be wandering why you could also download some programs or applications without the need to purchase it, the said applications are called freeware or those stuff that are free to download.

It is not new that piracy is still a big problem not just in the Philippines but in the whole world. To further explain it, a software is called pirated when it was illegally downloaded or was activated using a certain program. There are many hackers and computer geeks that could easily crack a certain program that needs a license.

The impression of others is that licenses are only used for... ... continue |
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Receive and send SMS using your computer

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 15 Jun, 2015
We are all aware that majority of cellphone users not just in the Philippines but in the entire world are already using smart phones. Smart phones have several features and functions which a regular cellphone does not have. One of the features that are available on smart phones is that it could be synced on your computer so that you could
send and receive text messages directly on your computer.

This application might be new for you but it is already possible. Some of you might have heard it already but most of you might not. The application that could be used to sync your phone on your computer is called "MySMS". The said application is capable of using your computer to send and receive messages. Just imagine the convenience that will give you if you are working on your laptop and somebody texted you and you could already reply using your laptop.

Personally, I have tried this program and installed it on my android phone and I can say that it works well. I do use it while I am on my laptop and even if my phone is inside my room, I could still receive notifications. It is very simple... ... continue |
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Tips for incoming IT students

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 15 Jun, 2015
It is again the time of the year where fresh high school graduates needs to enter college to study the field that they want to pursue. It is the time where they need to start being independent because now, the decision is on their hands and it is up to them whether to choose the bad or the good decision.

As we all know, one of the most in demand courses in the world is related to computers specifically IT. In this article, I would be giving out some tips for incoming IT students on how to cope up with the school's curriculum in order to stay competent.

Studying in advance - It would be a big advantage for you to study in advance in order to be always prepared on the lessons that the professors will discuss. This way, the professor will see your determination and will to learn.

Know your priorities - Incoming freshmen students must know their priorities. They entered college to study and to finish a degree. They must have the focus on studying and not on activities that are not school related.

Know where you excel - Maximize your potential, if you are good in programming then pursue... ... continue |
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Pop-ups, a possible source of malware

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 05 Jun, 2015
A pop up is a form of advertisement that is used on several websites. It is called a pop up from the name itself because it pops ups instantly whenever you open a certain site or if you clicked something that needs to open a new tab. Most users assume that when a pop up shows up, it is already a virus but actually, it is not. Again, a pop up is a form of advertisement but if it happens a lot, a malware might already be present on your computer.

Nowadays, browsers already contain pop up blockers which literally blocks pop ups but prompts you if ever you want to enable them. This way, pop ups are contained and would only show when you allow it. Most users are not aware that some programs that they have downloaded and installed might be the cause of several pop ups appearing.

There would be pop ups that would appear especially when you install additional toolbars for your browsers. I would advise you to not just install programs from ads. There would be some users that would just click install whenever a website prompted it. Another thing, be aware of the add-ons... ... continue |
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The importance of internship to IT students

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 05 Jun, 2015
Internship or commonly known as OJT (on the job training) is a requirement for college where in you need to spend a specific number of hours in a company to somehow experience the real world even before graduation. The number of hours will depend on the requirement of the school but usually, it will range around 200 - 500 hours. In this article, I will be explaining why it is important to have a good company for your internship.

Usually, the students will be the one to choose the company where they want to apply as an intern but the school can also suggest where but it would still be the decision of the student. Applying as an intern is also like applying for an actual job because you would also undergo interviews or even tests depending on the company that you will be applying for. In order to be ready for the real world, below would be some tips in choosing a company for internship.

Multinational Company - Applying as an intern for a multinational company might not be easy due to the number of applicants that are also aiming for the position. Working in a multinational company is a good... ... continue |
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Must have attitudes for IT professionals at work

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 30 May, 2015
In a company, IT professionals are always present to assist users and customers regarding various issues whether it is on the technical side or just a simple customer query. Being an IT professional is not an easy task and it requires training and never ending learning.

As we all know, the IT industry is still growing and the need of IT professionals are also rising. Every year, huge number of IT students finishes their degrees but the question is, are they ready?

In this article, I will be talking about the attitudes that IT professional and fresh graduates must have in order to stay competitive to be able to cope up with the demands of the industry.

Flexibility - Being flexible means that you could easily adapt with any changes needed. This way, the company could see that even if there would be any sudden changes that could make your work difficult, you're still willing to do it.

Respect - In any office, respect is one of the most important attitudes that every employees must possess. When you respect your fellow employees, a big chance is that they'll also respect you in return. But if you don't respect them, believe me; they'll... ... continue |
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MS Office Training, the course that will give you edge at work

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 29 May, 2015
Usually, when people hear about IT training, they think that it is only for IT professionals but actually, it is not. Here at CNCTC, we do not just offer training for IT professionals but we also offer basic training for those who wants to learn Microsoft office applications.

Most of you might say that using the said program would be a piece of cake but not to all. There would be those who need real training for them to be really familiarized with the program. I do suggest those who work in offices to give this training a try and I would assure you that you will finish your work faster.

For those working with MS office applications every day, I am pretty sure that there would be times that you spend amount of time in experimenting on how to do a specific task. It would be hard especially if most of you in the office are really not that familiar in using the said program. If there would be deadlines and some formulas are not working, that could be critical.

In this course, you will learn not just Microsoft Word but also Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint. It also includes the... ... continue |
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Ways on how developers earn from freeware apps

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 29 May, 2015
Ever wonder how developers earn from free programs they have created? Some of you might have asked this already. Being a developer is not an easy task and it requires a lot of patience, hard work, logic and most of all, sleepless nights. There are those developers that develop programs that are totally free, these developers are those who just wanted to help and share their skills and knowledge. In this article, I will be explaining some of the ways on how developers earn money after creating free applications.

Advertisement - Some companies insert their advertisement on free programs in order to let the users know that they are offering or selling a certain product or service. The payment depends on the agreement of the developer and the advertiser. A good example for this one is Facebook, Facebook is free to use but they offer several ways on how companies can advertise.

Premium Version - Many freeware programs has this one wherein they let users download their free version on the net which only has the basic version installed. If the user wants to access the full functions of the program, the user has the option to upgrade the free version into... ... continue |
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Developer

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 29 May, 2015
Ever wonder how developers earn from free programs they have created? Some of you might have asked this already. Being a developer is not an easy task and it requires a lot of patience, hard work, logic and most of all, sleepless nights. There are those developers that develop programs that are totally free, these developers are those who just wanted to help and share their skills and knowledge. In this article, I will be explaining some of the ways on how developers earn money after creating free applications.

Advertisement - Some companies insert their advertisement on free programs in order to let the users know that they are offering or selling a certain product or service. The payment depends on the agreement of the developer and the advertiser. A good example for this one is Facebook, Facebook is free to use but they offer several ways on how companies can advertise.

Premium Version - Many freeware programs has this one wherein they let users download their free version on the net which only has the basic version installed. If the user wants to access the full functions of the program, the user has the option to upgrade the free version into... ... continue |
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Philippines, one of the slowest internet connections in Asia

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 29 May, 2015
Most of us are aware that here in our country, internet speed is not that good. You will surely feel the difference once you have tried using the internet in other countries. So why is it that our country's internet connection is still slow but the pricing of the internet plans is almost the same with our neighboring countries.

There would be several reasons why our internet speed is still among the slowest but I think that the main reason behind is that we still cannot afford to invest on this aspect. If you are going to look at the reports generated by various tests, you will notice that we are still on the very bottom of the graph. I am pretty sure that most of us want blazing internet speeds but to tell you frankly, it still might take several years before we could attain that.

On the ranking of the fastest in Asia, Singapore is on the top of the list and that would not be a surprise. Singapore is basically known as one of the leading countries when it comes to the IT industry and it means that their technology is up to date.

If you will compare, Singapore's internet... ... continue |
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Common Problems For The IT Department

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 27 May, 2015
The IT department is the one in charge when it comes to the devices, configuration and maintenance of all IT related peripherals. They are also the one who is capable of assisting customer queries when it comes to technical stuff. In every IT department, there will always be problems even if everything is well maintained. In this article, I will be talking about some of the common problems of the IT department.

Internet Outage - Having no internet is one of the critical problems for the IT department. Not all companies have backup internet connections to use during outage. If ever that your company has no backup connection, it could take a few hours or even days to fix it depending on the cause of the outage.

Power Outage - Here in the Philippines, it is very common to experience power fluctuations. When fluctuations happen, it could cause minor problems on some computers. It is very seldom that companies provide UPS for all computers to prevent problems during fluctuations. For the network related devices, it is a must to have it connected to a UPS so that if ever fluctuations occur, the said devices would not be affected. If network devices are... ... continue |
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Basic Functions of an Active Directory

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 27 May, 2015
For those who are working in an office with a large network, I am pretty sure that your company is using the Active Directory service of Microsoft to handle computers inside your office. Active Directory is recommended for offices that handles several computers. In this article, I will be explaining the role of an Active Directory in a company.

First of all, Active Directory was developed by Microsoft and it is a service that controls both the users and the computers in a specific network. It can control the rights and the limitations of a user. The active directory is capable of disabling programs that are not needed or the folders that you could access. The said program can help the IT department of the company to implement policies and securities that are required.

The Active Directory is also the one being used to create user ID's that could access the domain. It is also where the IT department resets the password if ever a certain user forgot it. It is basically a secured way to access the network. If ever someone wants to access a computer but he/she does not have a valid account, the domain would not allow... ... continue |
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New games = new hardware requirements

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 22 May, 2015
Computer games were created years ago and it evolved as years goes by. There are several gaming consoles available in the market and usually, gamers tend to spend money on their gaming devices to better improve their gaming experience.

Hardcore gamers will always make sure that their hardware components are up to date in order to prevent hangs, lags or anything that might cause a bad experience while playing. For those who are not aware, a desktop computer is also considered as a gaming device and it is the one that needs constant upgrading.

New games on the market are being released from time to time and that it why upgrading your hardware is a thing you might want to consider. Most of you might be asking if why it is needed. The answer is simple, new games = new hardware requirements.

In this present time where games looks and feels real already, it would definitely need a video card that is capable of rendering the graphics and a processor that could support them. Your current hardware components might still be capable of running a newly released game but it could only run on its lowest setting. When a game setting is... ... continue |
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Worst viruses of all time

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 13 May, 2015
Most of you might be aware on what a computer virus is and what could it do to those computers that were infected. Basically, a virus is a program that could replicate itself without the knowledge of the user and it also has the ability to install or do some changes on your computer without your consent.

Viruses can be very lethal especially for big companies because it can freeze operations and could also damage infected computers. To know how deadly a virus could be, below would be some of the top viruses on the list that resulted to disaster.

I LOVE YOU - The "I LOVE YOU" virus estimated around $10 billion worth of damage. It spread via email and once you have it on your drive, it could copy itself and could stole passwords and send it to hackers.

My Doom - This virus spread via email and also by peer to peer file sharing. The virus forced google to shut down for almost a day. It infected many users because of its deceiving title like "Mail Delivery System" which many users would open especially if they are sending mails at that very moment.

Storm Trojan - The said virus... ... continue |
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Ways on how to recover files on a dead hard disk

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 08 May, 2015
As we all know, computer peripherals has life too and has a tendency to fail and die without any symptoms. The hard disk is usually the very first peripheral that fails in a computer. A hard disk is where we store files and that is why it is the most important part of a computer. If your hard disk fails, you can still do something to try to recover your files but it would depend on the defect of your hard disk and also the program that you use.

Retrieving files on a hard disk could be done by using free programs like Recuva, Undelete 360, Wise Data recovery and the like. The said programs will be the very first step that you could use to try recovering your files but if ever that the free programs could not handle the job; there are also those soft wares that you could buy which contains additional features and better support.

In using data recovery soft wares, there is no assurance that you could recover all files but you would not know if it works unless you try. It would be a big relief if ever you could successfully recover your files especially... ... continue |
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The end of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 07 May, 2015
More than a month ago, Microsoft had announced that they will already put an end to their long time browser, Internet Explorer. According to them, they would be using project Spartan as the codename of the next browser for the upcoming Windows 10.

Windows users are pretty much aware that the default browser that you could use right after you install windows is their Internet Explorer. It is also not new that many users do not like using the said browser due to several reasons.

Even from the start, I personally did not like using internet explorer as my browser because it crashes every now and then which can be very irritating at times. To be honest, you will only see few users that are using IE; you will normally see users using Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome as their browser.

When it comes to the interface of IE, it looks dull. It looks very simple. Sometimes, people tend to look at the design first before they use it and if they do not like how it looks like; they would not use or even try it anymore.

This time, Microsoft gave it up already after how many years. They will be introducing... ... continue |
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Free cloud storage sites, save and share files online

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 30 Apr, 2015
Some of you might already be thinking of buying an external hard drive or another hard drive for your computer due to low disk space. An additional hard drive could cost you thousands of pesos and as alternative, cloud storage comes in. So basically, what is cloud storage?

Cloud storage is an online storage of files which you could access anywhere as long as you have an active internet connection. Cloud storage is good for sharing files with friends and especially with your family. It would be a nice idea to have a common folder for you to share pictures and to store memories.

Cloud storage does not need advance skills in computers to have an account. You only need to register and you could start using it immediately. The free storage allocation would depend on the cloud storage host that you will be using.
Below would be some of the top free cloud storage that you could use.

Dropbox - This is one of the most popular when it comes to free online storage but users start only with 2GB of space but it could still increase and you'll know how when you are already using it. They also offer other plans... ... continue |
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Protecting your wireless connection at home

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 29 Apr, 2015
Many of us are already using wireless routers at home so that our hand held devices and laptops could connect without the use of long cables. It is usual for users who do not have knowledge on computers to let someone set it up for them which includes setting up the password for your wireless routers.

Even if our routers already asks for passwords, we are still not 100 percent sure that no one could connect to your connection especially if you have a computer geek neighbor. And that is why I am writing this article to give some tips on how to have a secured wireless connection at home.

SSID Name - This SSID name serves as the name of your wireless connection where you will connect to. At purchase, the name of this is usually the brand of router you possess but you could change this one. When you change your SSID name, make sure that it is not easy for them to distinguish where it is coming from. Some users tend to name their SSID by their names, last names or even address which is a big no because they could easily distinguish you. It would be better... ... continue |
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Encryption, the next level of protection for your information

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 29 Apr, 2015
It is not a secret to all of us that hackers are everywhere. They have the skills and devices to hack into your system for their personal gain. They could acquire anything and everything once they got in, they could steal your pictures, videos, emails and most importantly, information about you. If these hackers has acquired info about you, your family and your bank accounts then they can use is against you. Hackers could either steal money from your bank account or black mail you to extort something.

If your computer contains sensitive information that you want to protect, I would recommend using a good encryption program. This way, hackers could not easily steal any info about you. For those who are not familiar with an encryption program, I will explain it here on how it works.

First of all, encryption is a next level of protection that scrambles the contents which could not be accessed by someone without its secret key or password. Encrypting a data could be compared to a zip file with a password wherein you need to input a password first before you could get the files inside. To cite an example, encryption can also be seen on... ... continue |
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Reasons why an outdated antivirus can be critical

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 27 Apr, 2015
As we all know, an antivirus is a type of application that helps us guard our computers from viruses. It prevents malwares and other viruses to penetrate into your systems. It is a must for computers to be installed with an anti-virus software.

Most people think that when an anti-virus software is already installed, they are already 100% protected but that is definitely not true. Anti-virus software needs to be updated regularly to ensure protection from new viruses.
Almost every day, new viruses are being developed and that is why we also need to update our software to make sure that even new viruses could be prevented.

I once have a client who does not have an internet connection and then suddenly called me and complains that his computer is starting to slow down. I immediately checked his computer and discovered that his computer was infected by a virus from a flash drive. He asked me that how did it entered his system even though an anti-virus is installed. This is the question that you will normally hear from clients.

Before I install any anti-virus application, I do explain it to clients that an anti - virus software needs to be updated regularly... ... continue |
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Microsoft to roll out free Upgrade to Windows 10

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 27 Apr, 2015
Yes, you saw it right; Windows will be giving out free upgrades for those who are currently using Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 and take note, an update would be available even if you are using a pirated version.

It's been more than two years already since the release of Windows 8 and then now; they are again rolling out their latest product which is the Windows 10 version. According to Microsoft, the product would be free for update as long as you enable the Windows update and you must have the Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1 version installed. But the said update is not applicable to enterprise versions because of course; they would need to upgrade their license to a Windows 10 Enterprise version.

Windows 10 will be free for those who would upgrade in the first year right after the launch. The said OS might be free but according to Microsoft, they would not risk security and that is why they would be releasing updates every now and then to make sure that it runs perfectly.

As we all know, majority of users who migrated from Windows 7 to Windows 8 expressed dismay which resulted to... ... continue |
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Cisco certification: A good start for your IT career

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 23 Apr, 2015

Due to the rising demand for IT professionals, it would be best to have a training to give you an edge in applying for a job. As we all know, millions of IT students are graduating every year but the demand for IT professionals are also getting higher and that is why you could only land a job if you have what it takes and if you possess the skills needed by the company.

There are several specializations to choose for IT professionals and one of these is computer networking. If you chose to pursue the networking specialization, it is not enough that you only know the basics. The basics of networking could possibly lead you to an entry level job but if you want to raise your worth and your salary, I would advise that you get a Cisco certification course.

Cisco certification is not that easy and you will need to exert extra effort for you to understand and apply the concepts. Self-study may be possible but it would be hard especially if you do not have the right devices that are needed. If you really want to learn and understand Cisco, it would be best to train with the... ... continue |
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Importance of monitoring the server room

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 23 Apr, 2015
Almost all companies nowadays are relying on computers for their daily work and that is why it would be very important for the IT department of every company to monitor their respective server rooms to make sure that everything is in good condition. Some companies strictly implement the said monitoring but for some, they don't and that is why I am writing this article to remind everyone the importance of this task.

Below are the things that require constant monitoring for the server room.

Room Temperature - We are all aware that the our temperature nowadays are already rising and we must make sure that the room temperature of our server rooms are enough to cool down our devices. Having a server room that has a bad air-condition unit could result to problems. It could possibly fry your routers, switches and your other networking devices and that would be the worst that could happen to your IT department. Again, to make sure that your devices are cool enough to work 24/7, monitoring the room temperature is very important.

Cable and Power Connections - Most of the time, cables are the culprit when it comes to intermittent connections. It would be best to... ... continue |
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Computer preventive maintenance guide

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 31 May, 2014
Maintaining a computer could be compared to a car wherein you need to check it every now and then in order to make sure that it's running at its peak. It is called preventive maintenance because we prevent any failure that might occur by inspecting and maintaining it well. Unlike a car, maintaining a computer would be a lot easier. Below would be some tips that could help you maintain your computer.

Disk Defragmenter - Defragging your disks could help speed up your computer by rearranging files on your disk.

Registry cleaner program - Installing a registry cleaner program could help your computer run faster by fixing your registry.

Cleaning your case - Once in a while, it would be a good idea to clean your case in order to clear dusts for better airflow. One of the very reasons why a computer overheats is that the heat dissipated by the components couldn't go out because of a dirty case. While cleaning your case, you could also try managing your wires properly. It would also result to a better airflow for your case. Adding an additional fan could also help a lot.

Uninstall unneeded programs - If there would be programs on your... ... continue |
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Advancement of newer laptops vs the old ones

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 30 May, 2014
We are all aware that laptops nowadays are far better compared to those created a few years back. I am one of those who own a laptop that is already more than 5 years old but I am happy to say that until now its overall condition is still good except for its battery. In this article, I would like to share several improvements that newer laptop has that laptops before do not.

Speed - Newer laptops of course would be faster because of its newer processors. Due to better processors, laptops can now support high end games.

Size - Now, we already have what we call net books. It is like a smaller laptop but with a slower processor. 5 years ago, normal laptop sizes are only 14 and 15 inches.

Weight - Laptops now is lighter in weight unlike before that when you do have a laptop inside your bag, you are like carrying several books at your back. Laptops nowadays are thinner which made it lighter and is easier to carry.

High tech features - Laptops now do have biometrics and facial detection for better security. Besides that, laptop nowadays already support touch capable screens which eliminates the... ... continue |
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Microsoft's Surface Pro 3, A tablet that could be transformed into a laptop

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 30 May, 2014
Microsoft has announced their newest product which is called the Surface Pro 3. Microsoft said that this product could possibly replace your existing laptops. This product is a tablet but again, this could also be transformed into a laptop just by adding an external keyboard. This is not the the first that a company has released a tablet that could be transformed into a laptop but in my opinion, this product could possibly stand out from the rest not just because of it's design but also because of it's speed. Below would be the specification of the said tablet.

Processor - 4th Gen Intel Core i3, i5 or i7
Storage and RAM - 64 GB or 128GB with 4GB RAM / 256GB or 512GB with 8GB RAM
Display - 12" Multitouch
Weight - 1.76 lbs
Camera - 5.0 MP for both front and back cameras
Connectivity - Wi-Fi / Bluetooth
Battery Life - Up to 9 hours
OS - Windows 8.1 Pro

As I've said, this is not the very first transformer tablet but in my opinion, this would be the best so far due to it's fast processor. Usually, tablets only possess small processors like the intel atom but for this one, having an i series processor... ... continue |
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Tips on creating a strong password

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 30 May, 2014
What is a password? A password is a code we normally use in order to keep our files and accounts secured. We normally use it in our email accounts, social networking accounts and more. Passwords are made in order to protect the contents of our accounts but most of us don't really understand how to make one. Having a strong password is really important especially nowadays wherein hackers could penetrate into anything. In this article, I'll be sharing some tips on how to make a strong password.

Avoid using your name and your birthday - This is very common nowadays wherein they use their name together with their birthday as their password. For example, your name is Rachel and your birthday is Nov. 25 and so your password would be rachel1125. This kind of password is very weak and would be a piece of cake to open for hackers.

Different passwords for different accounts - If you have several accounts, I would advice not to have the same password for all but do make sure that you'll remember each and one of them. If you think that there is a chance for you to forget it, you could write a... ... continue |
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Importance of a portable hard drive

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 30 May, 2014
A portable hard drive from the name itself is a hard drive that you could carry wherever you go. It is like a bigger version of a flash drive. The main difference of a portable hard drive with a regular flash drive is that a portable hard drive could accommodate bigger storage capacity.

Having a portable hard drive is important for those who are on the go. A function of a portable hard drive depends on the user. For those who are related to the information technology field, portable hard drives serves not just a storage but also a backup drive especially if there would be important files or data that could be needed for work. For movie buffs, a portable hard drive for them might contain TV series and several movies that they could enjoy watching for hours. For those who love to take pictures, this serves as storage for the pictures that they took.

For those who are not aware, both desktop and laptop hard drives could also be used as a portable hard drive but you need to purchase an enclosure in order for it to work. If you'll be using a laptop hard drive with an... ... continue |
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A simple solution for your media player problems

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 30 May, 2014
Have you experienced downloading a video that would not play properly on your computer? The main of this might be that your default media player might not be updated. If you are one of those who experienced this kind of problem, this article might be helpful for you.

As we all know, media players are used to play music, videos or movies but if your media player isn't fully updated, you might experience some of the problems below.

Unsupported format - This is a very common problem wherein some formats could not be played. As I have said, this is a cause of an outdated media player. Updating your media player's codec might do the trick.

No sounds - This might also be a compatibility problem. If there is a video codec, there is also a sound coded that needs to be updated but before anything else, you could try checking your audio card and your speakers.

Video Lag - I have experienced this several times already wherein a video can be played but it would not play properly. It may be possible that your video card does not support the resolution of the video that you are playing or again, an outdated media... ... continue |
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Understanding Phone Tethering

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 28 May, 2014
Tethering is the process of connecting a device to your mobile phone to share internet connection. Tethering is done by those who are subscribed to a mobile internet plan which do have the capabilities of sharing their connection to other devices. Traditionally, we only knew routers are the only devices that could possibly share an internet connection to other devices but because of the continuing development of the modern world, mobile internet can now be easily shared.

Tethering your phone to other devices will depend on the connection that your phone has. It may be done using a Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or simply by a USB cable.

Bluetooth tethering - Tethering using your Bluetooth simply means that other devices could connect

Wi-Fi tethering - Tethering using your Wi-Fi or commonly known as mobile hotspot is the most common tethering being used. It means that other devices could connect to your device using Wi-Fi. Your phone acts as a router which could be used to share your phones internet connection.

USB tethering - Tethering via USB means that you could connect your phone to a device that has a USB port to share your connection.

In order to use tethering properly, you will... ... continue |
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Monitor your computer’s temperature with Speed fan

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 28 May, 2014
With the kind of weather that we are experiencing right now, it is not only us humans can experience the summer heat but also our computers. This kind of heat could result to an overheating computer but this could be monitored to prevent any damages. With the program called speed fan, you could easily check your computer's temperature at any time.

Speed fan is a program that could easily monitor your computer's temperature. One thing that I liked most about this program is that it monitors not just the case temperature but also the temperature of your hard drive, processor and video card.

With the help of this program, it would be easier to distinguish which component is causing excessive heat. Troubleshooting an overheating computer isn't easy but this program could really help you a lot. If the program suspects an overheating component, below would be the steps that you could do to fix the issue.

System / Case - If there is a system overheating issue, adding additional fans could help but if not, upgrading your case to a better one would be a good idea.

Hard drive - If the program detects an overheating hard drive, you could try reseating it... ... continue |
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Software that could monitor your child's internet activity

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 30 Apr, 2014
In our present generation, the greater percentage of the world knows how to use a computer. Even kids under 7 years old could even operate one. I can even see some kids who are playing with their own tablets while being pushed on their strollers. Most kids nowadays prefer facing the computer rather than playing outside with friends. Most parents might allow their children to use the computer but how could parents monitor the sites that they are visiting?

In this article, I will be sharing a program that could be useful in monitoring the sites or limiting the time they could spend using the internet. This way, parents would be sure that their children are not visiting sites that would not cause them any good.

One of the most famous programs that could help you protect your children is the K9 Web Protection. It allows you to block websites depending on the category. It can block the page when the program detects that the content of the website that is being opened is among the category that is blocked. As I have said above, it also has the feature to allow your child to use the computer for a specific... ... continue |
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The end of Windows XP

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 30 Apr, 2014
After more than a decade of existence, Microsoft has now decided to end the support for Windows XP. According to Microsoft, they have decided to stop giving out updates for XP so that they could invest more on new technologies. This means that all XP computers won't be able to receive updates anymore which could result to a computer vulnerable to viruses and the like.

If you still want to use XP, you may still do so but do bear in mind that without the updates, you're computer is at risk. I would really recommend upgrading your OS to a newer version of Windows for you to have a peace of mind.

For those who would want to transfer their files, a simple partition or even a flash drive would do the trick. You could save your files to a separate partition or to your flash drive so that when you need to install the newer version, you could just copy it back but this would only copy your files and not the settings or programs. It could also be possible to use Windows update but it would depend if your computer could meet the requirements.

I know that many are still... ... continue |
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Google Drive, Google's online file storage

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 30 Apr, 2014

More than a decade ago, floppy disks were used to save files but the only problem with it is that you could only save around 3mb of space for a single disk which is really small. Just imagine saving a 100mb file back then, it would need several floppy disks which make it more complicated to save. Several years later, the flash drive was invented which supports higher storage capacity which we could use to store bigger files like music, videos, movies and pictures. In our present time where almost everyone is online every day, there are already several sites that offer online storage and of them is Google.


Google's online storage is called Google drive which allows users to store and access their files anywhere and anytime. If you'll register with them, you'll be entitled with a free account which allows you to store up to 15GB. This would be good enough for documents and for a few movies but if ever that you still need additional space, you could still subscribe to their plans depending on the space that you need. Below are the storage plans that they offer.


15 GB - FREE
100 GB - $1.99 per month
1 TB... ... continue |
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Microsoft, The new owner of Nokia

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 23 Apr, 2014
Nokia, one of the biggest producers of mobile phones in the world will be acquired by Microsoft for around $7 Billion. It is not a secret to all of us that Nokia is not on the top of the list anymore. Years back, Nokia has been the leader in producing mobile phones all over the world but when android phones were introduced on the market, Nokia's sales drastically slowed down.

Nokia was known for their "User Friendly" mobile phones back then. At that time, Nokia's competitors are Samsung and Motorola. I remember having my very first mobile phone, the Nokia 3210 which became one of the most famous mobile phones of Nokia a decade ago. Almost all mobile phone designs and features of Nokia back then attracted consumers but after several years of being on top, Nokia wasn't able to sustain their position because consumers are now choosing other brands instead of Nokia.

In this present time, Android and IOS phones are the only two competing for the top spot on the market which leaves Nokia out of the picture. Nokia's Lumia which is powered by Windows wasn't able to catch the attention of consumers. It would be very seldom nowadays that... ... continue |
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Faster Internet with 4G LTE

By: Mon Peter I. Damiles Posted: 23 Apr, 2014
Internet connection nowadays is far more better compared a decade before. I do remember using a dial up connection wherein you need to plug your modem to a telephone line in order to connect to the internet with a speed of only 56 kbps. Downloading a 10mb file would take you hours unlike now that it would only take you a few seconds for it to be finished. A 1.5mbps connection may already be fast for others but for some, this isn't enough and this is where LTE comes in. LTE stands for Long-Term Evolution or commonly known as the 4G connection.

LTE connection was already available years back in other countries but was only recently acquired by the Philippines. If you are not happy anymore with the current speed that you are using, upgrading to 4g/LTE might be the best solution for you.

It is nice to know that telecommunication companies are doing their very best to come up with upgrades that would benefit us. The LTE connection is a fast internet by the use of mobile data and was introduced at first for mobiles only but now, it could already be used for computers wherein you just need... ... continue |
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