Parts of a Fiber Optic Cable

In the early 1980s fiber-optic cables connected most of the major cities in North America. Today fiber-optic cables circle the globe caring voice, video and data signals over these glass fibers. There are many different types of fiber-optic cables dedicated to many different applications, but they all share the same common configuration. CoreThe very center of the fiber-optic cable is a thin piece of glass that provides the path that the light...

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Coaxial Cable Types

Coaxial cables are cables that consist of two conductors that share an axis. The inner conductor is usually a straight wire; the outer conductor is the wire's shield, which is usually a braided wire or a metal ribbon. It is used primarily for radio and television signal transference. The combination of the center conducting wire and the outer conducting shield keeps other cable noise out and the signal in. TypesDifferent types of coaxial cable...

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Types of Cat5e Cables

The group of cables surrounding your computer or workstation is most likely composed of category cables, or Cat cables. These cables have various data transmitting capacities, ranging from the minimal traffic to the bandwidth-intensive amount of 100 GbE. Learn to differentiate one from the other so that you can do some minor troubleshooting when you have connection issues. Identify the CableCategory 5 cables, nicknamed Cat5, are cable types designed...

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Difference Between Cat5e & Cat6e Cable

Cat5 and cat6 cables are used for computer network cabling, most commonly for Ethernet cabling. The "e," as in "cat5e," stands for "enhanced." Cat6 cable reduces interference between the conductors and is rated for higher transmission speeds and bandwidth than cat5 cable. There are specifications for cat 5, cat5e and cat6, but the next level would be cat6a, even though cat6e is being sold as an enhanced cat6 cable with higher speeds than plain...

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IEEE Standard Wiring Colors

IEEE does not specify wiring colors; this is done by the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA). However, IEEE standards must be followed for electronics and electrical design using wires following TIA color codes. Furthermore, IEEE has color-coded its electronics design books based on the type of equipment, called the IEEE "Color Books." Default ColorAccording to "LAN Wiring" by James Trulove, "the most common color for nonplenum coax...

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How to Use Secondary IP Addresses With HSRP

Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP) is a Cisco proprietary protocol that takes two different devices and makes them into one. Configurations make the interfaces appear as if they are all part of one big "virtual router" with the same default gateway. The configuration provides for redundancy in the case of a failed link, failed port or total switch failure. 1). Decide how many groups that you need. The first group is the primary Internet protocol...

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Transfer All Data From HDD to HDD

Computer technology, including the acronyms and jargon that go with it, can confuse most people. Computer technicians used to joke that a PCMCIA card stood for people can't memorize computer industry acronyms. HDD is a bit simpler, as it stands for hard disk drive, as opposed to floppy disk drives or FDDs. Moving data between hard drives is less complicated than remembering the acronyms, though. 1). Find all of your files. Right-click on the "Start"...

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Deleting the Master Boot Record on a Partition

The Master Boot Record, or MBR, is a small program that runs each time your computer starts up. Sometimes, this program malfunctions and you may need to remove it. Often the best approach is to format the hard disk to remove all remnants of the malfunctioning software. This will remove every software and partition so you will be able to reinstall everything from scratch. 1). Back up all data on your hard disk. You can transfer all files to a...

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Animal Trough in Farmville

Animal Trough is a place where we feed animals in Farmville. Once we fill the trough with animal feed it attracts one of a number of typically available animals which you can be adopted for our farm.Once an animal is adopted, Feed Trough will need to get filled up again in order to attract another farm animal. Animal trough can be purchased from market in Buildings under Animals Tab.    If you do not choose to place it when we...

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Reset the Waste Ink on a Canon Printer

The Canon ink counter tool estimates your remaining ink usage, and should be reset each time you replace your ink cartridge. This tells your Canon software that the ink cartridges are full, so it can properly estimate the remaining ink levels. Since the ink counter is an estimate, you may have some ink remaining even when the ink counter says your cartridge is full. By resetting the ink cartridge, you can avoid wasted ink, and squeeze every last...

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Dispose of Printer Toner

 If you own a laser printer or copier, you will have to change the toner cartridge. But you cannot simply throw the old toner cartridge away with the trash. Those toner cartridges contain materials that are potentially hazardous, so keeping them out of landfills is important. Fortunately there are recycling programs in place to help you get rid of old toner cartridges without threatening the environment. 1). Remove the new toner cartridge...

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Comparison of Cartridge Toners

Though toner costs more in the short term than an ink cartridge, in the long run money is saved. Compared to ink, toner is cheaper. But how do you determine the best toner for you? There are a few different things to keep in mind when comparing toners that will help you make the best decision when it comes time to open your wallet and buy. 1). Find out if your printer uses liquid, powdered or laser toner. Only compare toners from the kind that your...

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Format a Protected Disk

  If you have forgotten your password to the disk and want to wipe it clean, work around the protection by using your Windows registry. The Windows registry logs all of the protection on disks and can also turn them off for editing and formatting. 1). Restart your computer and hold down the "F8" key. This will take you into Windows "Advanced Boot Options." Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to navigate to the "Safe Mode" option and then...

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Problems Installing GeForce 8400

GeForce 8400 is a high-performance video card used for video games and multi-media applications. It features 512MB of video memory, full DirectX 10 support, SLI technology and dual DVI outputs. The GeForce 8400 is also compatible with Windows, Macintosh and Linux operating systems. However, when installing the GeForce 8400, like any video card, problems can occur with compatibility and other factors. Motherboard IncompatibilityVideo cards come...

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Diagnose a Graphics Card Problem

Blank screens, display monitor flickering, squealing noises, incorrect text and monitor display sizes are all signs that require your graphics card settings to be adjusted. Thankfully, you can resolve many of these issues without having to dismantle your computer. By checking the connections and altering the refresh rate and resolution settings, your graphics card diagnosis will lead you to a fast and clearer visual repair. 1). Check the connections...

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Enable ATI Theater Mode

ATI Theater Mode is especially useful if your personal computer contains video files that cannot be played on your DVD player. For example, you may have home movies on your personal computer and no way to watch them on your TV. Theater mode is an effective way to send videos to your TV with minimal hassle. 1). Right-click the desktop. A context menu will appear. 2). Select "Catalyst Control Center" from the context menu. Catalyst Control Center...

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Ways to Save Printer Ink

When you purchase a printer for your computer, the price you pay for the device itself is only a fraction of the cost you incur over the life of the device. From time to time, you must replace your printer's ink cartridges. Lessen your ink consumption by developing wise printing habits. Print QualityMost printers have the option of printing documents and pictures at various quality levels -- and the lower the print quality, the less ink the printer...

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Print Black & White on Canon MX850

 Multi-function and all-in-one printers such as the Canon Pixma MX850 have a lot of settings and capabilities. Printing in black and white, or grayscale, is easy to switch to depending on each print. Printing in grayscale can be useful if you want to print out draft copies of a document or photograph, or alternatively if you want to have black and white prints for aesthetic reasons. 1). Click "Start" then your username. 2). Browse through your...

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Replace Ink in Canon MP970

The Canon PIXMA MP970 Photo-All-in-One printer uses seven liquid ink tanks to produce photos and paper printouts. The printer will display a message on its LCD screen when an ink tank runs out of ink. Low ink levels in one or more ink tanks will cause diminished print quality, such as streaks or lines in the printouts. Replacing depleted ink tanks will correct these problems. 1). Push lightly on the center of the printer's output tray to fold...

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Clean the Rollers on a Phaser 6120

The Xerox Phaser 6120 uses laser printing technology to transfer digital images and text to paper, creating hard copies. In order to create the printouts, the Phaser 6120 uses a series of rollers to move the paper through the inside of the machine. The toner powder, or the ink used in the Phaser 6120, as well as paper dust can eventually build up on the rollers with continued use of the printer. You may notice more paper jams or even black or grey...

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How to Reset Getting Low Ink Messages for Refilling Dell Ink Cartridges

Dell computer printers use a variety of types and sizes of ink cartridges. These cartridges are designed to be used once and then replaced. Refilling the cartridges is a more cost-effective alternative to buying new cartridges. Most Dell printers track usage of each cartridge to determine when the ink is getting low. Resetting the low ink warning prevents the printer from displaying low ink messages. 1). Click the Windows "Start" button. Select...

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Burn My Cassettes to CD?

Many older listeners still have storage-boxes full of the magnetic tapes. If you have a collection of cassette tapes you would like to digitize and protect, you can import the audio into your PC. Both Windows Vista and Windows 7 include all of the software you need to record songs from your cassette tapes and store them as digital audio files on your computer. 1). Connect the audio cable to the "line out" port on the cassette deck or recorder....

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How to Write a Dual Layer DVD

A dual layer DVD features two thin layers that can hold double the data, video clips or other media that you may store on a DVD disc. This saves time, space and allows you to have fewer discs for the same amount of space. Burning these discs is a relatively easy process that only requires a few extra steps than a standard DVD. 1). Download and purchase Nero (see link in References). Nero offers easy-to-use programs for every type of CD/DVD disc....

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Difference in DVD-R & DVD-RAM Discs

DVD-R and DVD-RAM are different formats of writable DVDs, discs you can use to store video, photos or data. While they're similar in their basic purpose, the two formats differ greatly in most aspects. Understanding these differences can help you determine which format is better suited for your needs. Reuse and LongevityOne of the biggest differences between the DVD-R and DVD-RAM formats is that data stored on a DVD-RAM disc can be removed or...

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How to Unlock On Screen Display (OSD)

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times...

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Turn Off MagicColor

This feature collectively is known as "MagicTune," allow Samsung customers to optimize their monitors because Samsung monitors come with this feature. The "MagicZone" feature has settings that enhance the color and sharpness of multimedia content. "MagicColor" improves digital graphics by helping the monitor produce natural looking color. This feature has a demo mode. If enabled, the monitor demonstrates the feature by displaying before and after...

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Connect LCD TV to Computer

Flat-screen LCD televisions are designed to accept numerous inputs. Depending on the model of the LCD television, it may accept the older analog RCA video connections, analog component video, analog VGA, digital DVI and digital HDMI. Most LCD TVs accept multiple HDMI connections. Computers typically have analog VGA connectors, and quite often, they have digital DVI connectors. Increasingly, computers are coming equipped with digital HDMI connectors...

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What Does a Uninterruptible Power Supply Do

An uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) serves as essential electrical backup to ensure that critical equipment stays running during power failures. When power is lost, the UPS automatically switches to its battery. Any electrical or electronic devices plugged into the UPS continue to work without a problem. Voltage MonitorElectronic circuits in the UPS continually monitor the power line's voltage. Normally, the alternating current (AC) power...

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Enable Power Management in the BIOS

  The BIOS controls the basic functioning of the various input/output devices connected or integrated within the system. Without the BIOS, the computer's main processor would not have the ability to communicate with or operate other pertinent components of the system. Enabling and adjusting the power management settings within the BIOS reduces power consumption and gives you control regarding how the computer operates when not in use. 1)....

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Upgrade Power Supplies in Computers

 Power supplies are needed because your computer needs different voltages than what comes straight from the outlet. Disconnecting and replacing a power supply is simple because it's just piece of hardware. 1). Shut down your computer and unplug the cable from the wall and the back of your computer. Open the computer case. This may involve unscrewing the access door from the back of the computer, pushing a lever or just sliding the door off. 2)....

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Membrane Keypads Tutorial

 Unlike traditional keypads with moving keys, membrane keypads are pressure sensitive, with key outlines or symbols printed on a flat waterproof surface. A wide variety of products employ membrane keypads, such as remote controls and microwave ovens, printers and switches. Industrial UsesMembrane keypads are a part of many consumer products, but you can also find them in industries where hygiene is important or where systems are exposed to extreme environments. For example, medical technology, the automotive industry and the disposal and recycling industry use membrane keypads....

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Replace LED Bulb in a Compaq Presario F500

The LED screen in your Compaq Presario laptop is powered by a bulb that is located directly behind the screen. If your screen is dark or is generally not functioning properly, it is likely the result of a blown backlight bulb. The good news is that you don't need to pay a computer tech to fix the problem for you, as you can replace the backlight yourself. 1). Power off your F500 and unplug the AC adapter power cable. 2). Slide the rectangular...

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Replace Batteries in a 1500 Rack Mount

 A 1500 Rack mount power supplies contain batteries that provide a continuous power source to the computer systems connected to them (most likely a server bank), so that should a building's power fail the computers will still be able to function. If the batteries in the 1500 fail, the power supply won't work, leaving the computers vulnerable. Replacing the batteries in a 1500 Rack mount takes about 30 minutes. 1). Look on the front of the...

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Benefits of a Glossy Laptop Screen

While traditional desktop computers afford users the option of installing a wide variety of monitors, your laptop computer displays its graphical user interface on its built-in screen, one whose size corresponds to that of the computer itself. Among the options you have when you purchase a laptop is the choice between a glossy or matte screen. Glossy vs Matte ScreensWhen you order prints of photographs, you have the option to choose between glossy...

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