How to Perform a Memory Test

If you’re experiencing issues related to your computer memory, such as slow loading times or frozen software programs, perform a memory test. A memory test allows you to identify problems with the computer's random access memory (RAM), such as a defective RAM chip. Many computer systems come with a built-in memory tester that you can access at start-up. In other cases, you might find it advantageous to run a third-party tool.

Instructions
1. Reboot your computer to perform a basic memory test. The BIOS system, which loads at start-up, automatically performs a "memtest." If the computer beeps once, the memory is fine. If it emits a series of beeps, there may be a problem with your RAM. The memtest will display information about the problem so you can resolve it immediately.
2. Use the Memtest86 utility to perform a memory test . You can download the utility to your computer for free or purchase it on a disc (see Resources). The program is a standalone program that runs on any DOS, Unix or Windows operating system. This program does a diagnostic analysis of your RAM to determine whether there are current or potential issues for you to address. After running the check, you'll receive an error summary listing the

Insufficient Memory to Perform Tasks on a Computer

Insufficient memory errors occur due to a lack of available physical or virtual memory on your computer. Causes can range from a lack of physical memory to run programs to too many programs open or running in the background, a small paging file or a virus taking up your computer's processing power. Insufficient memory errors are easily fixed in most cases, with the worst-case scenario generally requiring replacement of the memory modules.

System Requirements
Every program and operating system comes with minimum system requirements, and many have recommended requirements as well. If the amount of memory installed on your computer is less than the minimum recommended for a particular product, you may have problems launching the software or keeping it running smoothly. Your computer's system properties contains information on how much memory your computer has installed, so you don't need to open up your computer case to see if you meet minimum requirements.

What Are the Different Types of Maintenance Work?

Maintenance work can be divided into three primary categories: mechanical, information technology and structural. Many people assume that maintenance work relates solely to the ongoing repair of physical components, but it can be used to describe any type of ongoing work or effort required to maintain current operations. Although the work might be in different environments, the people who are drawn to maintenance work typically enjoy problem solving, facing challenges and using analytical skills.

Mechanical maintenance work is focused on physical units or systems. In general, the term is applied to mechanical systems, such as cars, heating or manufacturing machines. The level of skill required varies widely, based on the type of system, the primary purpose and the unique challenges created by the work environment. For example, maintenance work on a car includes the replacement of fluids that are used during the course of car operations. Maintenance of a manufacturing machine might include replacement of key parts that are worn away by extreme heat or the exposure to chemicals.

Information technology includes hardware and software components, both of which require ongoing maintenance work. Hardware needs to be maintained on a regular basis in two critical areas: operating system and physical components. The operating system is the type of software used to control the equipment and support other programs.

What Are the Best Tips for Operating System Installation?

There are several key points to make for hassle-free operating system installation. These include choosing the installation method and then planning the necessary backups. A second step is to verify that existing software and hardware will work after the installation. There are also some practical measures to take into account.

Depending on the system you are using, there are two main types of operating system installation. One is an "in-place upgrade," which is typically available when moving from one version of an operating system to a later version, but sticking to the same edition. For example, Windows Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 Home Premium would allow an in-place upgrade, but Windows Vista Ultimate to Windows 7 Home Premium would not. Where an in-place upgrade is not available, a clean install is required. This effectively involves wiping clean the hard drive and starting from scratch.

Which method someone uses for operating system installation decides on the back-up method he requires. A clean install will means he must completely back-up all the data he wants to use on the new operating system so that he can restore it later. This includes both computer settings and all files such as documents or multimedia files.

How to Write a Bootable ISO Onto a USB?

You can potentially use any USB thumb drive with enough space to hold your desired ISO to boot a computer.

A convenient method of running a portable operating system or emulating a disc of digital media is to burn an ISO file to a USB thumb drive. It is relatively simple to create a bootable memory stick with a disc image file on it using easy-to-follow instructions and a handy software program known as the Universal USB Installer that is the only one of its kind. It will take any ISO file and make an open USB port on your machine allow you to 

Instructions
Things You'll Need: Windows PC, USB flash drive, Open USB port, ISO file

1. Insert the memory stick into the open USB port.
2. Download and run "Universal USB Installer" from the link in this article's "Resources" section.
3. Click "I Agree."
4. Select a Linux distribution if your ISO is one. If not, choose the last option, "Try some other Live Linux ISO."
5. Press "Browse" and navigate to the location of your ISO disc image.
6. Click the arrow near "Step Three" in the program to select the name of your USB storage drive.
7. Click the "Create" button and allow the progress bar to complete.

How to Make Bootable Flash Drive?

Make Bootable Flash Drive

A bootable flash drive is a flash drive that boots up when you start your system. Having a bootable flash drive comes in very handy if you ever want to install an operating system on your flash drive. While the process for making your flash drive bootable is complex, it is doable if you carefully follow a few steps.Instructions
1. Make a separate copy of all the contents of the flash drive you want to keep. Insert the flash drive into a USB port on your computer.
2. Go to "Start," type in "cmd" and click "Enter." This will bring up the "Command Prompt." Type in "diskpart" and hit "Enter." The "diskpart" window will open.
3. Type in "list disk" and hit "Enter." In the listed disk drives, find the flash drive. You will be able to recognize it by its listed size. For the purpose of this article, let's say that it is listed as "disk 1," although it could be some other number. Type in "select disk 1" and click "Enter."
4. Type in "clean" and hit "Enter." This will remove everything on the drive. Now create a partition. Type in "create partition primary" and click "Enter." Then type in "select partition 1" and hit "Enter." Now type in "active" and hit "Enter."
5. Type in "format fs=fat32 quick" and hit "Enter." This will format the drive. Then, type in "assign" and hit "Enter." This will assign a letter to the flash drive, such as "G." Finally, type in "exit", hit Enter and you are done.

How to Make USB Flash Drives Emulate a Bootable CD-ROM?

USB flash drives are a convenient type of boot media.

USB flash drives are a convenient means of file storage, but they can also be formatted in such a way that they actually emulate a CD-ROM boot disc. A USB flash drive can come in handy as a boot disk as it has an increased storage capacity compared to a CD-ROM. USB flash drives are more portable and durable than CDs as well.
Instructions Things You'll Need: Windows-based PC, HP USB Disk Format Tool, Windows system files,
USB flash drive

1. Download the HP Disk Storage Format Tool (see Resources). This is the application that will format the USB flash drive to make it a bootable disk.
2. Download the Windows system files (see Resources) and save them to a folder of your choosing. These files are necessary for the USB flash drive to be properly formatted as a bootable disk.
3. Connect the USB flash drive to an available USB port on the Windows-based PC.
4. Run the HP Disk Storage Format Tool.
5. From the "Device" drop-down menu, choose the USB flash drive from the list.

How to Deactivate CD/DVD Emulation Software?

CD and DVD emulation software is capable of creating virtual disc drives on a computer, making it possible to run certain types of programs without the physical discs. This software can sometimes create conflicts with other software titles, particularly when it comes to installing new software. From time to time, you may be prompted to temporarily deactivate your emulation software to allow other processes to work.

Instructions:
Things You'll Need: Computer with installed software for CD/DVD emulation

1. Look at the System Tray, which is the row of tiny icons in the bottom right corner of the taskbar. See if there is an icon for your emulation software. If you cannot recognize this icon visually, roll your cursor over each icon and the name of the program or utility will pop up. If you find an icon for your emulation software, right-click it and see if there is an option on the pop-up menu that says Close, Shut Down, Disable, Deactivate or anything similar. Select this option if it appears; otherwise, try the next step.
2. Click the Start button on the other side of the taskbar and look in the programs list for an entry for your CD or DVD emulation software. If you find one, look through the folder for some type of interface program where you can change the software settings. Open this program if you can and browse through the settings and options for a command that will shut the software down. The functionality or even the existence of such a utility varies greatly from one software publisher to another, so you'll have to play this part by ear if you're unfamiliar with your emulation software. If this doesn't solve the problem, try the next step.

How to Remove Emulated Drive?

Emulated drives, or "virtual" drives, allow you to mount disc "images." For instance, you can copy a game or DVD movie to your hard drive as an image, then rather than have to insert the physical disc, you "mount" the image in your emulated drive. Emulated drives are automatically created when you install a CD/DVD burning program. You can remove an emulated drive by uninstalling it.

Instructions
1. Click "Start," click "Control Panel."
2. Double click "System" in the Control Panel window.
3. Click the "Hardware" tab in the "System Properties" window. Click "Device Manager."
4. Locate "DVD/CD-Rom Drives" in the Device Manager list. Click the "+" sign to expand the DVD/CD-Rom list. The emulated drive will be listed along with any physical drives you may have. Right click the emulated drive and click "Uninstall" in the window that appears. The emulated drive will be removed from the list.
5. Locate the "SCSI Device" in the Device Manager list. Click the "+" sign to expand the SCSI Device list. Right click the SCSI Controller and click "Disable" in the window that appears. This will prevent the emulated drive from reappearing.

How to Get Games to Run Faster With PCSX2?

The PCSX2 is a free emulator designed for PCs playing PlayStation 2 games. The emulator works by simulating the actual console machine and requires a capable computer to complete this task. There are several advantages with the PCSX2, such as improved graphics, ability to save at any time, cheating and portability. Although the games may currently be playing slow or be completely unplayable, there are some tweaks that can be done to speed up the performance.

Instructions Things You'll Need: Game booster application

1. Upgrade PCSX2 to the latest build and download the newest plug-ins from the official website (see Resources.) All emulators are a work in progress, and it is important to check for any new releases which may improve speed and fix various bugs left in the previous release.
2. Shut down all of the applications that are not needed to run the PCSX2. These are taking up precious resources which could be used by the software. This is done by opening the Task Manager, pressing the "ctrl-alt-del" at the same time and closing out the programs. If you are unsure if the application is needed to run the operating system, then leave it alone or you will cause Windows to freeze.
3. Defragment the computer hard drive by running the defragmenter. This application comes with all Windows computers and can be found by typing "Disk Defragmenter," without the quotes, into the search bar which is located under the "Start Menu." After being used for some time, the disk becomes partitioned and when it saves files they become scattered throughout the drive.

How to Set Up PCSX2 0.9.7

PCSX2 is a PlayStation 2 emulator for your home computer. PCSX2 requires a legal PlayStation 2 BIOS file to run, as a downloaded PlayStation 2 BIOS may be illegal, depending on your region. Setting up PCSX2 0.9.7 is a bit more complicated than installing your standard computer program, but the installation process is fairly streamlined.

Instructions Things You'll Need: Unzipping program, Legal PlayStation 2 BIOS

1. Download the PCSX2 0.9.7 beta Full installer from pcsx2.net/downloads.php?p=publicbeta. Unzip the installer package using a program, such as Winzip or 7-Zip.
2. Run pcsx2-r3878 to start the PCSX2 setup process.
3. Select the location for your PCSX2 saves. you will be offered a default folder, or you can choose your own, then click "Next >." You may be asked if you want to create new folders. If so, click the "Create" button.
4. Choose your plugin and hardware settings from the available drop-down menus. You can choose from a few different sources for each category, and you can also configure most of the settings. However, there is no configuration option for the "USB," "FW," and "DEV9" categories. Click the "Next >" button.
5. Select your PS2 BIOS from the "Select a BIOS ROM" list. If you do not see your PS2 BIOS on the list, deselect the "Use default setting" box and click "Browse." Locate and select the BIOS file on your computer, then click "Finish."

What are the Requirements for PCSX2?

PCSX2 is an open source PlayStation 2 emulator that allows you to play PS2 games through your computer's DVD drive. The program decodes the PS2 disc and runs the game on your computer. Emulating a PS2 game is a fairly hardware-intensive process, so your computer will need to meet certain minimum requirements in order to run PCSX2
Operating System
The PS2 emulator will run on any Windows or Linux operating system, but it is recommended that you have either Windows Vista or Windows 7. It will work with either the 32-bit or 64-bit versions of either operating system.
 
Processor As a minimum requirement, you must have a CPU that supports SSE2, or Streaming SIMD Extensions 2. This includes Pentium 4 and newer processors and AMD Athlon64 and newer processors. It is recommended that you have an Intel Core 2 Duo with 3.2 GHz or better.
 
Graphics Card Any graphics card that supports Pixel Shaders 2.0 will work with PCSX2. The recommended graphics card the GeForce 8600GT or better.
 
Memory At least 512 MB of RAM is required to run the PS2 emulator. To get the most out of the emulator and run games are a higher frame rate, you should have at least 1 GB or RAM or 2 GB if you are using Windows Vista or Windows 7.

How to Use Your Own WMV in Daphne Emulator?

Daphne Emulator is a free program designed to play Laserdisc-based arcade games on the computer. These classic games use a combination of pre-rendered video files and player choice to create an interactive movie. With Daphne Emulator, the user can play digital movie files from the game without the need for the original, physical disc. You can also replace the game's original video files with custom files of your choosing. Though Daphne Emulator only supports MPEG files, you can convert WMV files or any other format to MPEG with ease.

Instructions
1. Download and install VLC Media Player from its website. (See Resources.)
2. Click "File" and choose "Convert/Save." Click the "Add" button and find your WMV file. Click "Convert/Save" to continue.
3. Click "Browse" next to "Destination File" and choose where you want to save your file.
Type a filename with ".mpg" on the end. Select "MPEG-2" from the drop-down list next to Profile" and click "Start" to begin the conversion.
4. Copy your finished MPEG-2 file into your game folder, replacing the existing video file. Daphne will play your MPEG-2 file instead of the original.

How to Unzip Emulators?

An emulator is a program designed to mimic another device such as a gaming console. By using an emulator and a "ROM," which is an electronic backup of a game disc or cartridge, you play back-up games on your computer. These emulator programs zip into a ZIP archive to make them easier to download. You can unzip the program to access the Emulator by using native controls in Windows.

Instructions
1. Click "Start" in Windows and select the folder where your emulator ZIP file is, such as "My Downloads."
2. Right-click on the ZIP file, a list of options appears.
3. Select "Open." A box appears that has your emulator EXE file inside of it. Click and drag the file to your computer's desktop or other folder to unzip it. Double click the file to install it on your computer.

How to Play a RAR File on a Sega Saturn Emulator?

If you are trying to play games with your Sega Saturn emulator you might find that RAR files don't properly work. RAR files are archived files that contain other data. To play RAR files with your Sega Saturn emulator, you must first extract the data from the files. RAR files compress larger files, which is useful if the data is stored online or distributed by disc or email. You will be able to play the games with your Sega Saturn emulator using one of the following programs.

Instructions
7-Zip (Freeware)
1. Download and install 7-Zip.
2. Locate the RAR files on your computer.
3. Double-click the RAR files to open them in 7-Zip File Manager.
4. Click "Extract" and wait for 7-Zip to extract the data.
5. Open your Sega Saturn emulator, click "File", then "Open" and locate the extracted data. Select it and click "Open" to play.

WinRAR (Shareware)
1. Download and install WinRAR.
2. Locate the RAR files on your computer.
3. Right-click the files and click "Extract".
4. Designate a folder for the files in which to be extracted.
5. Open your Sega Saturn emulator, click "File", then "Open" and locate the extracted data. Select it and click "Open" to play.

WinZip (Shareware)
1. Download and install WinZip.
2. Locate the RAR files on your computer.
3. Double-click them to launch them in WinZip.
4. Click "UnZip" and choose a folder for the files to be stored.
5. Open your Sega Saturn emulator, click "File", then "Open" and locate the extracted data. Select it and click "Open" to play.

How to Disable Emulation?

Disc-emulator programs are mainly used to create and mount virtual copies of CDs and DVDs. This allows you to run programs that require a disc to be present without actually having one inserted. In order to prevent software piracy, some programs will not run if you have a disc-emulator program installed. The only way to circumvent such a problem is to uninstall any disc-emulator programs that you might be currently using.

Instructions 
1. Click "Start," type "Add or Remove Programs" (without quotes) and press "Enter."
2. Select the disc-emulator program that you are currently using by clicking on it.
3. Click "Uninstall" to remove the disc-emulator program from your computer.

What Is a Disc Emulator?

A disc emulator is a utility that adds a virtual CD/DVD drive to your computer. Using a disc emulator, you "mount" copies of CDs and DVDs and read them on your computer as if they were physical discs. Disc emulators help prevent waste, and they are especially helpful on computers that lack optical drives.

Types
Some of the available disc emulation programs include SlySoft Virtual CloneDrive, Daemon Tools and Alcohol 120%. Virtual CloneDrive is free. Daemon Tools and Alcohol 120% are both commercial products, but both have free versions with reduced functionality. Although the specific features of these programs vary, all have the ability to mount a disc image as if it were a physical CD or DVD.
 
Waste Reduction Some of the software downloaded online comes in the form of disc images in formats such as ISO. Disc image files are exact copies of physical discs, and disc-burning software has the ability to transfer one of these images to a physical disc. However, once you burn an image to a disc and install the software on your computer, you may no longer need the disc. If you mount the image using disc-emulation software, you can install it without burning and discarding a disc. This saves money and reduces waste.

What Is a Router Emulator?

Router emulators provide the look and feel of real router software.

If you are seeking a network certification, a router emulator can save you money by avoiding the need to buy a real router. Router emulators are software programs that run on PCs and provide the look and feel of a router configuration interface. Using a router emulator instead of an actual router has advantages and disadvantages

Routers Routers are devices that are used to connect networks together and to connect networks to the Internet. While a network switch can typically be placed on a network and work automatically, a router requires some configuration before it can be attached to a network and be used. Router configuration is usually done using a terminal emulator connected to a console port on the router.
 
Router Emulators A router emulator is a complex software program or suite of programs that acts like a router and often actually runs the software that runs on a real router. Network engineers use router emulators to build test networks. This allows them to prove their network design ideas before spending money on equipment. Emulators are also great for anyone seeking a networking certification since they allow the student to practice configuring a virtual router or network without incurring the cost of a real piece of hardware.
 
Emulator Disadvantages Emulators are not only complex, but they are big software programs. They take up a lot of memory and processing power, although most emulators allow you to throttle memory and CPU utilization to a reasonable level. Also, a router emulator is virtual and not physical, so it is not useful for training on a emulator configuration issue that requires working with the actual equipment.

What Is Pure Networks Platform Service?

What Is Pure Networks Platform Service?

The Pure Networks Platform Service is network utility software bundled with various Cisco home networking products. Often it will be included with wireless routers sold my manufacturers like DLink.

Identification Pure Networks Platform Service was designed to help individuals set up wireless networks or to access the Internet wirelessly. The primary purpose of home-based computer-to-computer network management facilitated by Pure Networks is the sharing of printers and other peripheral devices like scanners and copiers.
 
Types The Pure Netoworks Platform Service is not a standalone product. Since its introduction it has been bundled with third-party products like AOL Network Magic and Ulead Video Suite SE DVD. It has also been bundled with a number of Cisco's own products including Network Magic Pro, Network Magic Essentials, Network Magic Mac and Network Magic 
Basic.
 
Function The Pure Networks Platform Service has been notorious for causing conflicts on some Windows computers. It is an automatically launching service that can be manually disabled or uninstalled. Both Microsoft and Cisco offer instructions on their respective websites on how to install some or all of the elements of the Pure Networks Platform Service.

What Is a D-Link Emulator?

The wireless router manufacturer D-Link maintains an online collection of router emulators that operate within a Web browser. An emulator recreates the Web-based interface of the router it represents, allowing anyone to explore the features of a router and see its configuration options without having physical access to the hardware.

Accessing an Emulator
You can access D-Link's collection of emulators at the D-Link support website. Emulators are available for nearly 200 D-Link router models as of the date of publication. Click the model number of a router to access its emulator. In some cases, you may need to select a firmware version to continue -- this is the case if a firmware revision substantially changed a router's interface. When you begin, the emulator displays a login prompt. Click the "Login" button to continue to the main menu.
 
Purpose A router emulator is a useful tool for network administrators and technical support engineers who may need to walk people through troubleshooting and configuration steps over the telephone. An engineer with computer expertise can quickly find the configuration option to resolve an issue and use an emulator as an aid to describe the option's location to someone else. An emulator can also be useful for a student who needs to become accustomed to router configuration to earn a degree or certification.