How to Use a UPS

Rico Mossesgeld — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:30:42 +0000

The benefits of a UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) are clear. We all need, after all, enough time to save that important report or close that game properly, brownouts or blackouts be damned. Straight from the Tom’s Hardware Forums comes some sound advice.

Courtesy Aspstation.net

“Never plug any surge suppressor or power strip into the load side of a UPS. [They] can cause the UPS to drain its battery faster than expected, or cause the UPS to shut down or trip a circuit breaker.”
“Never plug any device into a UPS’s battery-protected outlets that… draws a high amount of power when first turned on. This includes most printers, especially laser printers; the power they draw at start-up exceeds what the UPS can deliver.”
“[M]ake sure the load doesn’t exceed the UPS’s real or apparent power ratings. Most UPS’s have some type of total load indication or at least an overload indicator light to let you know that the UPS is overloaded.”
“Different models of UPS may have the same apparent power rating but a different real power rating… UPS designs are different and one can handle more real power than the other. A prime example is the APC Smart-UPS 750 vs. the Smart-UPS 750 XL. Both are rated 750 VA, but the XL model can handle 600W while the non-XL model can only handle 500W.”
“Different models of UPS may have the same apparent power rating but vastly different run times. The power rating is determined by the size and design of the inverter, while the run time is determined mainly by the battery size. The APC Smart-UPS 750 and Smart-UPS 750XL are both rated at 750VA, but when powering a 300W load, the XL model can run it for over 45 minutes, while the non-XL model has only 10 minutes of run time.”
“Your computer power supply rating is much greater than the amount of power your system actually draws. Many computers today have a 600W or higher power supply, but actual draw from the line is generally 300W or less, so you don’t need to spend the money on a 1500VA UPS. To find out the actual amount of power your computer is using, use an inexpensive watt meter like the Kill-A-Watt.”

Post from: The Gadget Blog

Running Windows 7 and Vista or XP

Rico Mossesgeld — Sun, 03 May 2009 16:38:50 +0000

Got nothing to do this lazy Sunday? Why not give Windows 7 a try, and turn your PC into a dual-boot machine?

Maybe you decided to give Windows 7 a pass when it first came out, not wanting to replace Vista or XP on your PC. But once Windows 7 release candidate 1 (RC1) becomes officially available to the public this May 5, you might want to take advantage of turning your computer into a dual-boot machine. You get to try out Windows 7 for yourself, without giving up the Windows you use for your daily—and crucial—business.

Step 1: Download Windows 7 and Burn it Onto a DVD

You can download Windows 7 RC1 from Microsoft’s website come Tuesday. But a few (mostly developers) already have their own copy; some of them have leaked copies for download via torrents (link also has info on ensuring you get the legit stuff)

Once you have a copy, burn the ISO file onto a DVD. You’ll need a utility like Totally Free Burner to get the job done.

Step 2: Partition Your Hard Drive

Multiple versions of Windows on the same PC need their own partition to work properly. So you’ll need to create a partition to install Windows 7 on. What you need to do depends on your version of Windows.

Windows XP: Download GParted Live CD, burn it on a CD (again, you can use Totally Free Burner to do this), and boot from that disc. Wait for GParted to load, and use it to your full advantage (HowtoForge has instructions on using GParted Live C to partition your hard disk).

Windows Vista: Go to your desktop, hold down the Windows Key, and press R. Type in “diskmgmt.msc” and Press Enter. A list of your hard drives appears; right-click on where you want to install Windows 7 and select “Shrink Volume” (More detailed instructions are found on Lifehacker)

Make sure to partition at least 16GB for your Windows 7 partition!

Step 3: Install Windows 7

Now for the easy part. Install your Windows 7 DVD and boot from it. Note: When the Windows 7 installer asks for installation type, make sure to select Custom. Then choose the partition you created for Windows 7. If you’re not careful, you could end up wiping out your current version of Windows!

Once Windows 7 starts installing, let it work its magic. Sit back and relax, grab a drink, read a book, or of course, stay online through a second desktop or laptop. Just keep your eyes open and provide Windows 7 the info it needs.