Most Frequently Asked iPhone Troubleshooting & Repair Q&As:

How can I unlock my iPhone if I forgot the passcode?
How can I transfer or copy music, photos and videos from my iPhone to my computer?
How do I reboot or restart a "frozen" or "hung" iPhone? How do I reboot or restart a "frozen" or "hung" app or otherwise "force quit" an app?
How do I replace the battery in the iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS?
How do I fix my iPhone if it will not turn on, turn off, or wake up?
How can I start to troubleshoot any problem with my iPhone?
How do I replace the glass cover, digitizer and display (LCD screen) on the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S?
Why won't my iPhone play a particular song or video? Why isn't a song or video visible? Why won't my iPhone play some songs and videos that will play on my Mac or PC?
How do I replace the battery in the original iPhone (2G)?
Why won't my iPhone battery charge completely? Why does my iPhone run out of power so quickly?

For all iPhone Troubleshooting & Repair Q&As, check out the iPhone Troubleshooting & Repair Q&A (Home). Also see the iPhone Q&A for answers to dozens of other iPhone questions. For other Apple hardware, visit the EveryMac.com Q&A section.

How can I unlock my iPhone if I forgot the passcode?

The exact behavior of the iPhone depends on its configuration when one forgets the passcode. By default, there is not a passcode at all. However, Apple notes the following regarding forgotten passcodes:

If you repeatedly enter the wrong passcode, your iPhone will be disabled for longer intervals before you can try again. After too many unsuccessful attempts, you won't be able to try again until you connect it to the computer with which you last synced it.

Note: You can configure your device to erase itself after ten consecutive incorrect password attempts. This setting is off by default. It can be turned on by tapping Settings > General > Passcode Lock.

If you cannot remember the passcode, you will need to restore your device using the computer with which you last synced it. This allows you to reset your passcode and resync the data from the device (or restore from a backup). If you restore on a different computer that was never synced with the device, you will be able to unlock the device for use and remove the passcode, but your data will not be present.

How to Unlock iPhone Passcodes

If you have forgotten the passcode on your iPhone, you will have to restore the device.
To restore your iPhone -- which deletes all of your data (songs, photos, videos, apps, and so on) on the iPhone use the following directions. Be absolutely sure that you have backed up the content on your iPhone before restoring it.
Apple's official instructions to restore an iPhone are:

1. Connect iPhone to your computer.

2. In iTunes, select iPhone in the Devices list, then click Summary at the top of the screen.

3. Click “Check for Update.” iTunes tells you if there’s a newer version of the iPhone software available.

4. Click Restore. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the restore process. When restoring, it is recommended that you back up iPhone when prompted. When the iPhone software has been restored, you can either set it up as a new iPhone, or restore your music, videos, app data, and other content from a backup.

Please also note that Apple representatives can't unlock an iPhone for you without restoring the iPhone, which will erase everything on it.

How to find Skype contacts

Skype is a wonderful tool for chatting with your chums for free. But how do you find your friends in the first place?

 

First, you need to make sure that your friends actually have Skype accounts. After that, it’s slightly more complicated than just punching in their phone number. But not to worry – here’s a handy guide to help you find and set up your Skype contacts.

 

You’ll need:

 

• a Skype account and the Skype program installed on your computer – see our guide How to download Skype if you haven’t got these already
• at least one friend with a Skype account.

This guide is specifically for Windows computers, but Skype is also available for Apple Macs.

 

Follow these step-by-step instructions to find your Skype contacts

 

Step 1: After starting up Skype and logging in, find the menu bar at the top of the window and click Contacts. A drop-down menu will appear. Choose Add a Contact. You will then have a choice of searching for a contact name in the Skype directory or to add a phone number that you already know.

 

 

 

Step 2: Choose skype directory and in the next window that will open, type part of the name or the name of the skype contact you wish to add. As you type, a number of skype names will appear underneath. Double click on the name you wish to add.

 

 

 

Step 3: Another box will pop up with the details of the skype contact you are going to add. Click on Add to Contacts. 

 

 

 

Step 4: Another box will pop up next to the click on add to contacts button where you can type your own message or continue with the default message. Click Send.

 

 

 

Step 5: The contact will be added to your list, but will have a question mark next to their name to show that the contact has yet to confirm they want to connect with you. 

 

 

Step 6: You’ll have to wait for your friend to receive the request and agree to it. Skype suggests using its service to ring potential contacts on their mobiles or landline phones (see our guide for how to do this) to badger them to accept, but remember: Skype will charge you to make these types of calls!

 

Step 7: If you want to add someone’s phone number to your Skype, follow step 1, but this time choose Add a phone number from the Add a contact menu.

 

Step 8: Complete the boxes with the name and telephone number and click on Add Number.

 

 

Google AdSense Don'ts - Dirty Tricks and Bad Tips That Will Get Your Site Banned

Want to make money with Google AdSense for content? Here's a list of what not to do, unless you want to get banned. Google doesn't play around when it comes to click fraud. Click fraud loses Google money, and it loses AdWords customers money.

If you don't play by the rules, you may get a warning, you may get suspended, or you may just get banned.

1. Commit Google Don'ts

The first thing to avoid is any of the Google Don'ts. Cloaking, keyword stuffing, and title stacking are all ways to get banned from Google searches. They're also ways to get banned from AdSense.

When you place AdSense ads on your site, your site is far more visible to Google and it's much more likely that your rule breaking will be caught.

2. Click on Your Own Ads

No matter how tempting, never ever click on your own ads. This is probably the easiest way to get your site suspended or banned. It's a form of click fraud, and Google is very good at catching this, even if you think you're hiding your tracks.

Don't let anyone who uses any computer in your home click on your ads, either. Make sure your significant others and children are aware of the rules, or you could jeopardize your standing with Google.

3. Hide Your Ads

It might be tempting to hide your ads by making them the same color as your background or camouflaging them on areas with busy background images. You do still get paid for pageviews, so invisible ads would still pay, right? Don't even try it. This violates Google's Terms of Service, and it's easy to get caught.

Don't stuff your ads far below the rest of the content, either. Clicks pay better than pageviews, so it's to your advantage to have your ads prominent. Try to make the ads look like they belong on your page.

4. Beg for Clicks

Don't hold ad-click contests, beg, or even give big hints that people should click on your ads. They can ban you if they catch you begging for clicks anywhere on the Web, including pages that are totally unrelated to your AdSense pages.

Google also forbids labeling your ads with language stronger than "sponsored links." This is really for everyone's benefit. Pages that beg for clicks are usually not great reads, and pity clicks don't help the advertisers.

Note: It's fine to have contests on your Web site that aren't related to ad clicking or other rule breaking, such as "best photo" contests.

5. Alter the Code

AdSense generates javascript code that you can copy-and-paste directly into the HTML of your Web page. If you need to change the color or size of your ads, generate new code from AdSense. Don't make changes to the code from your Web page editing program or tweak it by hand.

If you put AdSense in Blogger, Google will generate the code for you from within Blogger.

6. Use Robots to Click on Your Site

Never use any sort of automated tool to inflate your page views or click on your ads. This is click fraud of the highest order, and Google is very sophisticated at catching this. This is a trick that can easily get you banned.

Likewise, don't use human-powered schemes to pay for clicks, either. No trading clicks with other AdSense users, and no pay-for-clicking schemes. If advertisers wanted to pay people for clicking, they would have signed up for it themselves.

7. Tell People How Much You Earn Per Click

Google is very picky about how much you disclose about how AdSense works. They don't let you tell people how much you were paid per keyword, because this could jeopardize revenue from AdWords advertisers. Beware of anyone who offers to sell you this information.

8. Make Pages Specifically to Display Ads

Google says you can't make pages simply to hang ads, "whether or not the page content is relevant." Many Web sites, including About.com, make money from ads. Google itself makes most of its money from advertising. What makes the difference between ad sponsored content and content for the sake of ads?

When you develop your site, your first thought should be about creating content, not ads. Avoid writing empty sentences for the sake of generating keywords, and avoid lengthy copy-and-pastes just to make more pages. Every page you publish should have a content-driven purpose.

9. Make Content About Taboo Topics

Google has a strict list of content standards, and they don't accept AdSense on pages that are violating them. These include, among other things, sites that promote or sell:

• alcohol
• certain weapons
• firearms
• tobacco
• drugs
• designer knock-offs

This is a silly rule to violate, because AdSense is keyword generated, so it's amazingly easy for you to get caught. If you do have content that violates these rules, such as a beer-making supply store, they may be legitimate sites, but AdSense is not for you.

10. Cheat in Any Other Way

This isn't by any means a comprehensive list.

I'm sure there are many ways to game the system that Google hasn't found out about... yet. There always are. AdSense is constantly changing to find new ways to detect click fraud, and eventually you will be caught.

The best way to generate income through AdSense is to create good content that is well optimized for search engines and to promote your site through legitimate channels.

That sounds like a lot of work, because it is a lot of work. However, it's a strategy that won't get you banned.

9 Tricks I Used To Triple My AdSense Earnings In 30 Days

I have been using Google AdSense to monetize my blogs and websites for as long as I remember. In fact it was the first method I ever tried (I made a whooping $15 on my first month… back in 2005). Over the years I migrated to other methods (e.g., direct sponsors and affiliate marketing), which made AdSense become merely an inventory filler. I was still making around $1,000 monthly from it, but whenever I could I would use other methods over it.
Then some months ago I started noticing an upward trend on the CPC of my sites, and I figured that I should give AdSense another try. I started applying some tricks here and there, and the next month I made over $3,000 with it (that is combining all my sites). I was pleasantly surprised, and I decided to keep using it actively on some sites.
In this article I want to share with you the tips and tricks I used to triple my AdSense earnings in one month.

1. I added units to my Big Websites

Daily Blog Tips and Daily Writing Tips are my largest websites in terms of traffic. They are getting close to one million monthly page views (combined). Despite that I was not using AdSense on them, mainly because the direct sponsorship model was working relatively well.
Some months ago I decided to load some AdSense units on the sites, however, and the results were very positive. Around 70% of the boost I generated to my earnings came from these two sites. At the same time I managed to keep the other monetization methods working fine, and no reader ever complained about the new ads (more on that later).
Even if your blog is already making money with direct sponsors and affiliate marketing, therefore, you could still manage to increment your earnings by strategically adding some AdSense units.

2. I added units to my Small Websites

As many webmasters do, I have a bunch of small websites scattered around the web. Some are on free hosted platforms like Blogger, and others are self hosted sites that I abandoned along the way. Most of these sites still get traffic, however. Not much, but combined the numbers get decent.
I figured that adding AdSense units to all these sites could yield some money, and I was right. The main reason is that, since these are abandoned sites and don’t have loyal visitors, I can place the units very aggressively. The result was a very high CTR (Click-through rate), which compensates the small traffic levels.
Don’t underestimate the earning potential of small websites, especially if you are willing to place AdSense units aggressively.

3. I used the Large Units

If you want to make money with AdSense you’ll inevitably need to use one of these units: the 336×280 large rectangle, the 300×250 rectangle, the 120×600 large skyscraper or the 728×90 leaderboard.
Whenever I tried to use smaller units the results were disappointing. Even if I positioned them aggressively the CTR was just too low.
All four units mentioned above can produce good results, but the best performing one is by far the 336×280 large rectangle, and that is the one I used to boost my earnings.

4. I placed the Units above the Fold

My first trial was to place the 336×280 large rectangle between the post and the comments section of my blogs. The results were OK. I then decided to try placing them below the post titles for one week, and the CTR skyrocketed. In fact I still need to find a placement/unit combination that will beat placing a 336×280 unit below post titles.
I knew this rule, but I guess I needed to test and get confirmation. The rule is: if you want to make money with Google AdSense, you must place your units above the fold.

5. I Focused on Organic Traffic

My main concern with adding a large AdSense unit right below my post titles was that some of the loyal readers could get annoyed with it. At the same time I knew that loyal readers become ad blind quite fast, and that the bulk of my money would come from organic visitors (i.e., people coming via search engines to my posts).
To solve this problem I decided to display the large rectangle only on posts older than seven days (using the Why Do Work WordPress plugin). It worked like a charm, as loyal readers don’t even notice the ad units when they are browsing through my recent posts, and organic visitors almost always see the ads because they usually land on posts older than seven days.

6. I started using AdSense for Search

I was not sure how much money I would be able to make with AdSense for Search, but I was not happy with the search results provided by WordPress, so I decided to give it a shot anyway.
Currently I am making around $60 monthly with AdSense for Search. It is not much, but if you sum it over one year we are talking about $720. On top of that the search results are as relevant as you’ll get, so it is a win win situation.

7. I started using AdSense for Feeds

Another AdSense product I decided to try was the AdSense for Feeds one. I opted to display the ads below my feed items (you can also place them on top, but this would be too intrusive in my opinion). The results here were pretty good, both in terms of CTR and earnings.
You obviously need a large RSS subscriber base to make this work, but I am guessing that even with a couple thousand subscribers you could already make $100 monthly from feed ads.

8. I played around with section targeting

Section targeting is an AdSense feature that allows you to suggest specific sections of your site that should be used when matching ads. You can read more about it here.
I found that on niche and small websites section targeting can help a lot. Often times Google was displaying unrelated ads on these sites because there weren’t enough pages. After using section targeting I managed to increase the relevancy of the ads and consequently the CTRs.

9. I tested with Different Colors and Fonts

If you enabled both image and text ads on your units you should be able to customize the colors and fonts. I did some testing with both of these factors, and it helped to increase the numbers. Nothing dramatic, but it was definitely worth my time.
You just need to track your CTR for a couple of weeks. Then change the color or font and track it for another week, seeing if you can beat the original CTR. If you can, keep the new format. If you the performance decreased, try a new color or font and track the CTR for another week, until you find the optimal combination.
On my sites the best results came from making the ad units merge with the look of the site, but on some sites contrasting colors perform better, so testing is a must.

How to Know If Your Laptop Has a WiFi Card

In today's technology-driven society, wireless networks can be found in virtually any locale. Along with smart phones, tablets and netbooks, laptops are one of the most common devices through which people connect to wireless networks. While most modern laptops come equipped with built-in WiFi cards, a fair number of older models do not. So if you've recently come into possession of an aged laptop, you can easily confirm whether or not the device is WiFi-ready.

Step 1Power up your laptop in an area that features WiFi. A home with a wireless network, bookstore, library or coffees shop is ideal for this task.

Step 2Click on the Windows start button. Access the computer's Control Panel.

Step 3Double click on the Network Connections icon. You will now be shown a list of your laptop's Internet connections.

Step 4Look for an icon labeled "Wireless Network Connection." If you see this icon, your laptop features a built-in wireless card.

Step 5Right click the Wireless Network Connection icon, then select "Connect to Wireless Network." Enjoy surfing the Web on your WiFi-enabled laptop.

How to Hide an IP When Connecting to WiFi on a Laptop

Internet Protocol addresses provide basic information about your computer. If someone captures your IP address, they can sometimes identify your general location and computer operating system. An IP address does not provide information on your actual address unless the person that obtains the IP address has the legal right to contact your Internet service provider and retrieve that information. On a laptop, hiding your IP requires the use of a virtual private network or proxy server. Proxy servers are not recommended since you can't know if the person on the other end of the proxy is reputable. Additionally, they don't mask your entire computer and usually just work with the specific website you want to visit. When using a business laptop, hiding your IP address provides additional protection and security.

Items you will need

• VPN service

Hotspot Shield

Step 1Download and install Hotspot Shield (see Resources) using the installation wizard. Follow the prompts and agree to the "Terms and Service."

Step 2Double-click the program icon for Hotspot Shield. This initializes the application and connects you to the Internet. There are no special preferences that you need to set.

Step 3Click the check box when Hotspot Shield first starts to indicate that you want Hotspot Shield to automatically connect to the Internet when the computer starts.

Step 4Check the system tray for a green shield icon. This indicates you are safely connected to the Internet.

PrivateTunnel

Step 1Navigate to the PrivateTunnel website (see Resources) and create an account by entering your email address and a password in the registration box.

Step 2Check your email for a confirmation link and click the link to activate your subscription.

Step 3Log in to your account with the email address and password you created.

Step 4Click the "Download" link to download the VPN software.

Step 5Follow the on-screen installation instructions to install the VPN service.

Step 6Navigate to the PrivateTunnel website, log in and select the server you would like to connect to. This step only has to be completed once and must be completed online in your account. This can't be completed through your computer application. There are options for cities in the United Kingdom, the United States, Switzerland and Canada.

Step 7Double-click the application icon located in your Programs folder to connect to the Internet with the VPN.

Step 8Check the icon in the status bar to determine if you are connected securely to the Internet. The PrivateTunnel icon should light up when connected.

ProXPN

Step 1Navigate to the ProXPN website and download the software (see Resources). Follow the prompts in the installation wizard to install ProXPN. When the installation completes, click the "Finish" button.

Step 2Start the application by double-clicking the application icon or by clicking the Windows "Start" button, typing "ProXPN" in the Search field and pressing "Enter."

Step 3Click the "Don't Have an Account?" link located under the General tab in the application.

Step 4 Create an account online. ProXPN will send you an email with a link for you to click to activate the account.

Step 5Enter your email address in the Username field and your password in the Password field in the application.

Step 6Check the system tray for a green icon. This icon indicates that you are safely connected to the Internet.

My Laptop Isn't Connecting With My Printer via the USB

If you have a printer hooked up to your company laptop via a USB cable but are unable to print, there are several potential solutions. Not all printer issues like these are related to connection problems, so before proceeding, try printing from multiple applications on your laptop to verify that the problem is related to the printer connection rather than to the program from which you're trying to print.

General Troubleshooting

When it comes to diagnosing and fixing printers, often the simplest solutions are the most effective. Start by verifying that your USB cable is securely connected both to your laptop and your printer. Verify that the printer is turned on and that its status lights indicate that it is ready to print. Once the printer is turned on and the cable is connected, Windows 8 should display a message and automatically recognize and install your printer. If this does not happen, the printer may already be installed.
To check whether the laptop has already installed the printer, swipe to the right edge of your screen and click "Search." Enter "Devices" in the Search box, click "Settings," and then click "Devices." Your printer should appear in the list on the right side of the screen. If it doesn't, click "Add Device" and choose your printer on the list to install it.

Reboot and Update Windows

You can remedy many printing problems in Windows 8 by downloading available updates for the operating system. Move your cursor to the top-right corner of your screen, click "Settings," and then enter "Windows Update" in the Search box. Click "Check for Updates," accept all updates, and then reboot your computer again. When the laptop has fully rebooted, connect your printer's USB cable and see if you can print.

Install Printer Software

Some printer manufacturers require you to install manufacturer-specific print software before their printers will function as they should. If you have not yet installed this software, insert the CD or DVD that came with your printer, and then proceed with the automated prompts to install the software. If your laptop does not have an optical drive, download the software from the printer manufacturer's website. When the download is complete, open the downloaded software file and proceed through the prompts to install the software.

Printer Troubleshooter

Windows 8 has a dedicated device troubleshooter designed to help diagnose and fix printing issues. To launch the tool, swipe to the right edge of your screen, click "Settings," and then click "Find or fix problems." Click "Use a Printer" under the "Hardware and Sound" header, and then proceed through the automated prompts to have Windows diagnose any printer problems.

My Laptop Keeps Dropping WiFi

Wireless networks can much more convenient than dragging Ethernet cords around to keep your laptop online, but with wireless networks you can have problems maintaining your network connection, and that's almost never a problem with wired networks. If you're having difficulty keeping your laptop online over a wireless network, you should consider a few common causes and solutions to try to correct the issue.

Distance

The most obvious cause of Wi-Fi connection problems is the distance between your laptop and the router. The farther you are from the router, the weaker the signal will be, and if the signal is too weak, your laptop will frequently drop its connection. If possible, move your laptop closer to the router or move the router closer to you. Check the wireless signal strength by clicking on the wireless network icon in the notification area in the bottom-right corner of your screen. Depending on your laptop's current setup, the icon is either five bars indicating the potential signal strength of a wireless network or the icon is the image of a monitor and an Ethernet cord.

Interference

Electronic devices can cause interference to a Wi-Fi signal, even if those objects aren't particularly large. Monitors, televisions, computer equipment and cordless phones can all interfere with your wireless network, making it difficult for your laptop to maintain its connection. If possible, move all of those types of objects away from your laptop and router. Of course, large objects can also interfere with your signal. This is true of walls and, to a lesser extent, furniture and metal objects like filing cabinets. Keep the router and your laptop away from those as much as possible.

Outdated Drivers

"Drivers" are the instructions your laptop uses to interact with its own hardware, like its video card and its Wi-Fi antenna, and updated drivers can improve performance in some cases. You have to be online to look for new drivers, so you may need to use an Ethernet cable if your Wi-Fi is unreliable. Click the "Start" button on your laptop and select "Control Panel," then "System and Security," then "Device Manager." Select the "Network adapters" option; then right-click your wireless antenna from that list. The exact name of the antenna depends on the manufacturer, but you should see the word "wireless" somewhere. Select "Update Driver Software ..." to begin searching for updates to the drivers. Follow any on-screen prompts to install them.

Antenna Problems

The network problem could be due to your laptop's or router's antenna, and if you replace one or both, your network may become more reliable. Usually internal laptop antennas work well, but if yours is old or damaged, its performance could be significantly reduced. Other laptop antenna options include USB antennas and PC card antennas, if you have a PC card slot. You may want to purchase one of these to see if performance improves. For routers, internal antennas are usually not replaceable, but you can often replace external ones with more powerful or directional antennas. If you replace your router's antenna, buy one for your router's exact model, and buy it from a reputable seller. Ideally, you should purchase it from the router's manufacturer.

How to Increase Your WiFi Signal on a Laptop

A weak Wi-Fi signal from your wireless router to your laptop can cause slow speeds or make your connection drop intermittently. Several factors can affect the wireless signal, including interference and out-of-date software. If you have access to the router and its settings – for example, when working in your own office – you can make additional changes to improve signal quality beyond the changes you can make to your laptop. Any one step may improve your signal, so you do not necessarily need to complete every step if your problem is resolved.

Laptop Changes

Step 1Move your laptop closer to the wireless router. Distance from the router causes unavoidable loss in signal strength. If you go too far, the laptop will start losing its connection.

Step 2Update the drivers for your wireless network adapter. Drivers control the way your computer connects to the network, and old drivers may have bugs that cause your connection to drop. To update drivers, visit the manufacturer's website for your network adapter, or check Windows Update for driver updates.

Step 3Replace your Wi-Fi adapter if your laptop has trouble connecting to any wireless network. Most laptops have built-in adapters that you can't physically replace, but you can add on a new USB adapter to effectively replace a malfunctioning internal adapter.

Router Changes

Step 1Move your router closer to where you use your laptop. If you can't move the router very far, try to place it higher up in the room and farther away from walls and metal objects, which can block the signal.

Step 2Set your router to use a different wireless channel. Using a different channel can reduce interference from other devices. To have the least interference from neighboring channels, use channel 1, 6 or 11. You can set the channel in your router's setup options, usually accessed through a special Web page. Check your router's manual to find out how to log in to its setup page.

Step 3 Update your router's firmware. Like a driver for your computer, the firmware on your router tells it how to function, and updates may improve performance. Many routers have updating tools built in to their setup pages. Otherwise, visit the router manufacturer's website for the latest firmware download and instructions on how to install the update.

Step 4Add a new antenna to your router or a wireless repeater to your network. Some routers have replaceable antennas, and a different model of antenna may function better than the built-in model. You can also attach a repeater to your network. This device will receive the signal from your router and broadcast it again from a different location in the building, providing more signal coverage.

How to Do a Complete Format on a Laptop

If you have become frustrated with the performance of your laptop because of too many installed programs, an overgrown system registry or a malicious software infection, the fastest way to restore its original performance is with a complete hard drive format. However, this process is complicated and can result in loss of data or inability to get your operating system and programs back if you forget a critical step. Confirm that you have all of the software needed to restore your computer, and then use your recovery disc or Windows installation disc to format the hard drive and re-install Windows.

Step 1Confirm that you have the Windows product key for your laptop. If you purchased the laptop with Windows pre-installed, the Windows product key is generally on a sticker affixed to the bottom of the computer.

Step 2Check that you have the ability to reinstall Windows. You need a Windows installation disc or the recovery disc for your laptop. If your laptop did not include a physical disc, it stores the original system files on a hidden hard drive partition. Confirm that the partition works by pressing a keyboard shortcut displayed on the screen such as "F8" or "F10" during startup. Your computer should also include a utility allowing you to burn the system files on a recordable DVD.

Step 3Check that you have all of the software and driver discs needed to install your programs and hardware device drivers. If you downloaded some of your software from the Internet, find the installation files and save them on a removable storage device.

Step 4Back up all of the data on your laptop's hard drive. You can use a free program such as Clonezilla or DriveImage XML to clone the hard drive on an external drive. If you do not have a hard drive large enough to hold all of the data on your laptop, you can back up the most important files manually.
However, formatting your laptop will remove this data. If you forget something, it will be difficult or impossible to recover.

Step 5Insert the Windows or recovery disc, and restart your laptop. If you are using the hidden recovery partition, restart the laptop and immediately press the shortcut key displayed on the screen. Follow the instructions displayed on the screen to install Windows or perform a full system recovery, and return your laptop to its original state.

I

How to register .com.np domain name for free?

If you are a internet enthusiast and willing to get your own Domain then it’s a no big thing. As opposed to other Domain signing up .np signing up is absolutely free and every body can sign-up .np Domain. I am going to describe stepwise procedure on how you can get your personal Domain?

Check whether the Domain you want is available or not(Check Domain Availability). For individual domain, use your citizenship name while signing up. They only let your Domain authorized according to your citizenship name and it’s a first come first provide base.
Visit the mercantile Office. See the needed records below before visiting.

Required records for .np registration:
For Personal Request
A application letter.
A duplicate of the candidate’s citizenship document must be dropped to the Host master at Mercantile communications,, Durbar Marg. Kathmandu to be able to confirm the validity of the candidate as only Nepalese people are eligible to sign-up individual websites.
Online form (Administrator’s agreement cope with in the online form should be from the Domain owner)

NOTE:- Personal Domain name should be selected based only on his/her name as mentioned in citizenship certificate.

Mercantile Communications Pvt. Ltd.
P. O. Box 876,
Durbar Marg,
Kathmandu, NEPAL.
Fax: 977 1 4256761 (10 AM to 5 PM in all operating days)
Email: hostmaster@mos.com.np

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How to Become a Freelancer

How and Why to Freelance Your Services

 

Becoming a freelancer is a way to work at home and be independent without needing to start an actual business. As a general rule, so long as you operate under your own name you do not need to register as a business (check your home state for any special requirements). This makes it possible to get started as a freelancer overnight without a lot of hassle and with the least amount of expense.

What is a Freelancer?
A freelancer is someone who offers services for a fee. In general terms, a freelancer works independently with no expectation of a permanent or long-term relationship with a single employer.

Why Would You Want to Freelance?
If you suddenly get laid off, you'll need to do something in order to keep an income stream coming in. The sooner you can do that, the less financial trouble you'll be in. While you can look and look for jobs and hope you get hired, you could decide to freelance on day one and try to find work independently.
If you've had an urge to be your own boss anyway, becoming a freelancer may be a good way to do it. You can even continue your job search while you freelance.

What Kind of Work Do Freelancers Do?
Freelancers can be asked to do just about any kind of work you might imagine. Here are just a few of the most popular types of freelance services:

• Freelance writer
• Freelance desktop publishing services provider
• Freelance virtual assistant or virtual professional
• Freelance bookkeeper

Basically, anything you might consider doing in your own business, you can do on a freelance basis under your own name. In most cases, even in those professions where a license is required.

What Do You Need to Freelance?
To freelance, you basically just need to have something of value you can offer to potential clients. Most people draw on their employment experience and offer freelance services in areas in which they are especially talented. The following items are also useful for those who want to freelance:

• A website to promote yourself
• A dedicated business phone or cell phone number on which prospects can reach you
• A business card
• Ideally, a business address (such as a post office box or mail box service)
• A portfolio of your best work
• Ideally, a few references, but you will build those as you go along

How Do You Find Freelance Work?
The answer partly depends on the type of freelance work you want to do. But here a few freelance job resources you might consider:

• Craigs List - www.craigslist.org
• Guru - www.guru.com
• ELance - www.elance.com
• VWorker (formerly Rent-a-Coder) - www.vworker.com

Some freelance job sites are free - some charge a renewable fee in order to bid for jobs. In some cases, a freelance job site might offer both free and paid membership, but in such cases the jobs on which you can bid as a free member are usually very limited.

Some freelancers join a union that can also provide job opportunities.
You can also look for opportunities to get free advertising your freelance services - including CraigsList and posting your profile on freelance sites.

If you can become part of a network affiliated with your services, that's always helpful. You should also post a profile on social networks, such as LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com).

How Do Freelancers Handle Taxes?
Like any job or business, freelancers need to meet their federal, state and local tax obligations. This means filing any estimated tax returns, just as you would if you started your own business, except that your taxes are filed under your own name and social security number instead of your business name and tax ID number. Any clients who pay your more than $600 in a calendar year are required to provide you with IRS from 1099 reporting your earnings.

Estimated taxes are filed with the IRS (and in most states, with your state) on a quarterly basis. The IRS provides forms to help you estimate your taxes so you send in the right amount. Not paying your estimated quarterly taxes can result in interest and penalties from both the IRS and your state.

What are the Major Advantages of Being a Freelancer?
If you freelance, you can usually set your own hours. You may be extremely busy one month and at a standstill the next month in your freelance practice. Use the slow times to rest up and to find new ways to find freelance gigs in your field. Also use the time to improve your website or investigate other ways you can market your freelance services.

Freelancing is what the "American Dream" is all about for many people. Low costs and little time and hassle to get started with a great deal of independence. In the vast majority of cases you will be able to work from home. You won't have to convince your employer it's a good idea to let you telecommute.
Freelancing is also a great way to help keep your head above water if you find suddenly find yourself unemployed. It can help tide you over until you find other work, all the while giving you valuable experience in client service and giving you exposure to a variety of projects. Who knows, after you've been a freelancer for a while, you may decide you like being independent and stop looking for employment!

What are the Pitfalls of Being a Freelancer?
Some people believe that being a freelancer means they won't get paid much and some employers who hire freelancers think they shouldn't have to pay much. That's because the competition is very tough and it's global - people from all around the world may offer the same services for less than half of what you can offer them. That's to be expected. Over time, your experience and your references will help you command freelance rates you can be proud of.

Keep in mind too, that a freelancer you are not obligated to accept a job. If you don't like what's being offered, keep looking for something that pays a bit more. Unfortunately, a fair number of employers who use freelancers end up taking advantage of them - by paying a substandard rate, not paying on time, etc. As you become an experienced freelancer you will learn to recognize which employers are worth your trouble and which are not.

 

5 Ways to Find Work as a New Freelancer

When I first started freelancing, I was unhappy in my job. I was working in Boston during the dotcom bubble burst of the early 2000s. There was nowhere for me to go in my current position, and the constant layoffs and cutbacks were making me nervous. So I retreated back to what I knew I was good at—writing.
I started off slow at first, finding a few gigs on Craigslist. I started writing for a couple of local music magazines—one of them paid and one of them didn’t. Then I started writing lifestyle pieces for a free monthly tabloid. I kept those freelance jobs up when I started a new full-time job. I liked this new job, but it was working for a small video editing house. As the in-house producer, I didn’t get a chance to write.
I loved seeing my name in print—and that’s why I did it. I made hardly any money but I did get some perks—free movie tickets, a book or CD here and there—but I was building up my portfolio.

I decided that I wanted to make a career out of writing, so applied to grad school and moved to New York City to attend NYU. I was careful to keep every clip I wrote (including an early interview with the likes of an up-and-coming rapper named T.I.) and put them together in a binder.

During an internship fair (much like a career fair, just for internships) I whipped out my trusty portfolio. My fellow students oohed and aahed over my clips. “If you’ve been published, why the heck are you in grad school?” they asked. “Because I want to get paid for doing this!” was my reply.



I had some great internships (one of them even paid) in grad school, and amassed many, many clips for my portfolio. I wrote for free a lot, but felt that that was par for the course. I knew my graduate program wasn’t going to last forever.

I paid my dues and learned a lot. And when I moved out of New York City and started looking for freelance work, I had a lot of clips to show people. I had essentially already started my freelance career while in grad school, so I felt I had the confidence to continue to get freelance work once I graduated.

Some of you may not be so confident or have a ton of clips to tout your talents. That’s OK. You have to start somewhere.

I liked the ideas on how to hustle for freelance work in this blog post on theDailyMuse. These tips are relevant for any creative freelancer, no matter their expertise.

Do it Pro-Bono – at First

Doing work for free obviously isn’t a long-term strategy, but it is a great one if you’re just starting out and trying to make contacts. —theDailyMuse

I teach an undergraduate journalism class at a nearby college, and I always urge my students to contact the owners/editors of websites they really love and follow up to see what it would take for them to write a guest post. It’s a great way to get your foot in the door, even if they don’t have any paid work available. When paid work does come along—they will already know you can produce.

Be Shameless on Social Media

If you are my friend on Facebook, you will undoubtedly notice that I frequently post my FreelanceSwitch blog posts on my wall. It helps promote FreelanceSwitch as well as my work. A lot of freelancers I know have a website that showcases their ongoing work. Having an online portfolio is a great idea.

Get Your Work in Their Hands

As a magazine editor, I can’t tell you how many photographers from across the country send me promotional materials in the mail and through email. Tangible stuff is my favorite, as it’s harder to ignore.

Don’t be Shy

Network! Most of the freelance writers I use introduced themselves to me at one time or another. It’s great to put a face to a name. Get out in the community and meet the people who can help you move your career along. Have you already done work for someone? See if they will give you a testimonial. Having another editor vouch for a writer’s work gives me more confidence.

Look Online

There are lots of places to look online for work, from MediaBistro.com to JournalismJobs.com to right here on the FreelanceSwitch Job Board. There is usually a minor monthly fee for access, but it can really be worth it.
Just because you don’t have a ton of experience doesn’t mean you can’t freelance—it just means you shouldn’t quit your day job…yet. You’ve got to start somewhere, so what are you waiting for?

How to unlock iPhone 4 – Free unlock any iPhone 3g 3gs 4 4s 5

 The best and Reliable tool to unlock any iphone 3g 3gs 4 4s 5

Right from the innovators who pioneered the way for touch screen mobiles and smart phones comes another revolutionary experience, the iPhone 5. Apple had always been the market leaders and when it comes to providing premium sophistication, they are always ahead of others and continue to do so because of the pride that owning their product offers. You get the iOS platform which has a vast list of ever growing apps to choose from and even a voice assistant Siri. Even with all this, being unable to install apps of your choice or sticking with the same carrier might be a great pain which is why you should unlock iPhone 5 to experience its full potential.


How to unlock iPhone 4 for free?? Here is the solution



Apple had always been strict about allowing people to open the phone to new firmware. They like to keep things exclusive and sometimes just because you couldn’t find a reliable solution to iPhone 5 unlock may stopped you from trying more. You don’t have to anymore because this completely legit tool will do the job for you. Designed by the best in the industry, the solution is 100% working and has been endorsed by many users like you. All you need to do is download the tool and within a short time, your phone will be ready to use without a fuss. Check out the video to know how easy it is to make it work.
When you look forward to jailbreak iPhone, you are not alone at all because there are many others like you who are looking to come out of the clutches of the carriers as well as hugely priced apps. You can even install third party applications or those that you have downloaded from the internet. Such level of freedom is offered only by cracking but Apple has made sure that it’s not a simple task. With the unlock tool here, you can now jailbreak it for free and without any hassles. For those who have been searching for a long time on how to unlock iPhone 4, they will find their comprehensive answers right here with a single tool programmed specifically for the purpose.

Learn everything about the a free tool

in this dedicated page and you can even watch the video to know that it actually works! When you unlock iPhone 4, it opens a whole new world of apps, entertainment, games and productivity. The tool makes it easy to install applications downloaded from different websites without any alerts or denial from the iOS software. Apple app store is the biggest around the globe which offers plenty of new content every day and you don’t have to pay them every time to download if your phone is ready to be installed with hacked software applications.

Unlock iPhone Tool

With this completely automatic tool which allows you to unlock iPhone 5 easily, you can enjoy the best that the Apple device has to offer without premium charges or barriers set by the mobile carriers. Grab it now and unlock it instantly to a world of exciting apps, games and lot more to do!
For all mmo fans we suggest you to take a look , how you can play world of warcraft free, and enjoy in one of the most popular game in the world.

How to Buy a Laptop

One size fits all? Just the opposite: If there's one thing that characterizes the laptop market, it's the array of sizes and styles to choose from—flyweights that barely tip the scale at 2.5 pounds, lap-crushing behemoths of 10 pounds or more, and everything in between. Indeed, venturing online or into an electronics store to pick a laptop can be an overwhelming experience if you're not prepared for all the choices and focused on your needs.

That's where this buying guide comes in. We'll brief you on the latest buzzwords and trends, help you decide which features matter most, and get you ready to buy the right portable for you, whether it's a super-slim ultrabook or heavy-duty desktop replacement.

Netbook Successors
The netbook category, distinguished by low prices and tiny clamshell designs, has all but disappeared—but smaller, inexpensive systems are still in high demand. Newer 10 to 12-inch ultraportables have fully embraced Windows 8, and resurrected the netbook concept with dockable Windows tablets. These slim and portable tablets feature the same Atom processors and small screens seen in the netbooks of yesteryear, but that small screen is now a detachable tablet, offering a level of portability and convenience that netbooks never could. The Acer C7 Chromebook (C710-2847) $268.99 at Amazon and the HP Envy X2 (11-g012nr) $589.00 at Amazon weigh about 3 pounds when docked laptop-style with a keyboard, and drop to 1.5 pounds when used as a tablet alone.

There's another newcomer offering small, inexpensive laptops, as well, though it may come from an unexpected source—Google. Chromebooks leverage Google's free Chrome operating system to put all of your internet connectivity needs into a small laptop, and by forgoing Windows, these systems can be sold for significantly less than competing systems. The Samsung Chromebook Series 3 (XE303C12) $249.00 at Best Buy, for example, sells for $249, and the Acer C7 Chromebook (C710-2847) $268.99 at Amazon is even cheaper than that. This web-centric notebooks aren't for everybody, but they are definitely worth checking out if you want a portable laptop primarily for browsing the Web and working online.
Ultrabooks

A year ago, ultrabooks were the newest thing in the laptop world, taking inspiration from the likes of the Apple MacBook Air 11-inch (Mid 2012) $928.00 at Datavision. Ultrabooks took the ultraportable category and refined it with industry wide standards governing everything from boot times to chassis thickness—no more than 18mm (0.71 inch) thick for units with screens smaller than 14 inches. Dubbed ultrabooks, these wafer-thin systems represent a new vision for portable computing, a no-compromises laptop light enough that you'll forget it's in your briefcase, whose battery and storage let it resume work in seconds after being idle or asleep for days. Solid-state drives (SSD)—whether a full 128GB or 256GB SSD or, more affordably, a small one used as a cache with a traditional hard drive—give ultrabooks their quick start and resume capability. In the last year, these slim portable systems have gone from being the exception to the rule, with dozens of new ultrabooks, offered by every major PC manufacturer.

For a basic laptop that offers ultrabook-style portability, there are plenty of thin and light laptops available, like the 13-inch Dell XPS 13-MLK $1,199.99 at Dell or the larger Acer Aspire M5-581T-6405 £749.99 at amazon.co.uk and Asus ZenBook UX51Vz-DH71 . Intel's competition hasn't taken this shift lying-down, however. HP has an entire line of AMD-powered laptops with ultrabook-like proportions, such as the HP Pavilion Sleekbook 15z-b000 . All offer full-sized keyboards and enough horsepower for desktop applications. Right now, the hottest part of the ultraportable segment falls under an Intel-trademarked term called ultrabook; more on ultrabooks in a minute.

With the arrival of Windows 8, which makes an aggressive push towards touch interfaces and tablet-like designs, the ultrabook category has morphed from merely thin and light to offering all manner of touch-enabled models, like the Sony VAIO T15 Touch (SVT15112CXS) . Touch has also come to the AMD-powered Sleekbooks, with systems like the HP Pavilion TouchSmart 15z-b000 Sleekbook .
With thin designs offering more mobility than past laptops and touch-enabled displays becoming the norm, the ultrabook is being shaken up yet again with the introduction of convertible designs that offer both laptop and tablet functionality. Whether it's the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 that folds around to change from laptop to tablet and back, or the Asus Taichi 21 , which puts a touch-display in the lid of an otherwise standard ultrabook, the lines between laptop and tablet have been bent and blurred considerably in recent months.

Mainstream and Premium
While ultrabooks and their ilk now make up the majority of laptops on the market, a few mainstream notebooks you're used to can still be found. These 14- and 15-inch laptops aren't as portable as the new crop of slim systems, but offer everything you need for a day-to-day PC. Systems like the HP Envy X2 (11-g012nr) $589.00 at Amazon or the Sony VAIO E15 (SVE15116FXS) may not be as portable, but without the size constraints introduced by the ultrabook design, they offer larger storage capacity and a broader selection of features. And while many PC manufacturers have moved en masse to the Ultrabook category, Apple hasn't abandoned the desktop replacement, with the updated MacBook Pro 15-inch (Mid 2012) and the ultra-high-resolution display of the MacBook Pro 15-inch (Retina Display) . These sorts of 1080p+ displays will soon be showing up in Windows laptops, but can already be found on the premium Google Chromebook Pixel (64GB, LTE) .

Media and Gaming
For something outside of the mainstream, there are still large 17-inch media centers available, like the Dell Inspiron 17R Special Edition (7720) , which caters to elite audio and video buffs with large 1080p displays, excellent audio, and Blu-ray drives. While there are a few systems made specifically with media-lovers in mind, most are made for gamers. The gaming laptop—distinguished by powerful discrete graphics processors and features the offer a competitive edge online—has seen a dramatic expansion in the number of designs and variations available. While there are still high-end systems, like the Origin EON17-SLX , for those who want the very best, budget-friendly gaming systems are offering better capabilities for more affordable prices, as seen in the Asus G75VW-DH72 . Portability has become a bigger focus as well, shifting from the stereotypical back-breaking 10-pound systems to smaller and lighter laptops, like the Razer Blade (2012) or the Maingear Pulse 11 , which let you take your games on the road.

How to Find Your WiFi Password when You Forgot It

You want to log onto a WiFi network with your mobile device. Your computer logs on automatically, but you've forgotten the password to get access with your smartphone or tablet. Fortunately, you have several options for finding your WiFi password.

Steps

Method 1: Find Your WiFi Password on Your PC Using Command Prompt

1. 1
   Go to Start. In the search box, type in "cmd". If your Start menu has the Run command, click Run and type "cmd" in the field.
   
   
   
2. 2
   Look for a black box that will pop up on your screen. At the top, you will see either C:/Documents and Settings/ or C:\Users\(Name)>
   
   
   
3. 3
   Type"ipconfig" using the cursor.
   
   
   
4. 4
   Hit Enter. On your screen, you will see a series of names and numbers. Look for the line that says Default Gateway. Write down the number that you see next to Default Gateway, including the periods between the numbers (e.g., 912.982.1.5. When you're done, exit the box.
   
   
   
5. 5
   Navigate to Google or another search engine. In the address bar, type in the number that you just wrote down.
   
   
   
6. 6
   Hit Enter. You will see another screen that has fields to enter your username and password. The username is "admin", and the password is either "admin" or "1234" or "password". Enter that information into the appropriate fields.
   
   
   
7. 7
   Click the "Log In" button.
   
   
   
8. 8
   Go to the Wireless tab on the website that pops up. If you scroll down, you should find something called password. Write down your password and put it in a safe place in case you forget it again.
   
   
   

Method 2: Find Your WiFi Password on Your PC in Windows

1. 1
   Find the wireless icon in the System Tray next to the clock. Click on the icon, which is usually next to the clock, and then right-click your connection.
2. 2
   Retrieve your password. The instructions will vary depending on what version of Windows you are running.
   • Windows 7: Select Properties and then check the Show Characters box. Doing this will display the passcode.
   • Windows Vista: Select either Connect or Disconnect. Then, select Properties, check the box next to Show Characters and retrieve your password.
   • Windows XP: You will need to download WirelessKeyView, which is explained in the next section.^[1]

Method 3: Find Your WiFi Password On Your PC Using WirelessKeyView

1. 1
   Download WirelessKeyView.
2. 2
   Extract the zip file to your desktop. Then, run the program.
3. 3
   Write down the security information for your network. Write down either the hex number or the ASCII number depending on how your network is encoded.^[2]

Method 4: Find Your WiFi Password on a Mac

1. 1
   Click on System Preferences. Then, choose Utilities.
   
   
   
2. 2
   Choose Keychain Access.
   
   
   
3. 3
   Select the name of the WiFi network that you need to access.
   
   
   
4. 4
   Click the "i" icon on the bottom toolbar.
   
   
   
5. 5
   Check the "Show Password" box. You will be prompted to enter the password for your Mac. Then, your WiFi network password will appear.^[3]