How to clean CPU heatsinks

After several months, CPU heatsink often accumulates dust. This may jam heatsink fan or block air circulation. If CPU overheats, we may have to replace it with a new one.

It is important to clean heatsinks in CPU or graphic card regularly. I had a broken graphic card because of accumulating dust in heatsink fins - blocking air circulation. My CPU once had dust accumulated in its heatsink. BIOS showed CPU temperature reached 71° C. But after I cleaned it, CPU temperature was always constant in 60° C.

Brush is OK, but we must remove CPU fan first. It is easier to use vacuum cleaner and plastic pipe. We just need to fasten this pipe to vacuum cleaner suction using adhesive tape. This pipe should be small enough to go between CPU fan blades. Vacuum cleaner suction is strong enough to suck and clean dust from a heatsink.

It is important to prevent dust accumulation in heatsinks (like in CPU and graphic card) and power supply vents, as disturbed cooling system may lead to damages to these components.

How to open docx in MS Word 2003

Docx is a new format in MS Word 2007 and later, so by default MS Word 2003 is unable to open and edit documents in docx format. Personally, I am reluctant to use MS Word 2007 and later, because its design is far different compared to previous version of MS Word. Users should familiarize themselves to new design in MS Word 2007; this is my main reason not to use it as replacement.
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There are two methods to open docx in MS Word 2003:

1. I installed MS Word 2007 side by side with MS Word 2003. Afterwards, MS Word 2003 is able to open docx without problem. I still prefer MS Word 2003, but installing MS Word 2007 can make us more familiar with MS 2007. 
2. Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint File Formats. This plugin enable MS Word 2003 to open docx (and MS Excel 2003 and MS PowerPoint 2003 to open xlsx and pptx respectively). Some windows updates are required to install this program. 

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Standalone installer of Yahoo Messenger, Google Chrome, and Skype

These are standalone installer of Yahoo Messenger, Google Chrome, and Skype. Usually, these three applications need online installation. Online installation can be a problem if we have slow or unstable internet connection, downloading these installers first and install can be a solution for the problem.

Yahoo  Messenger

Google  Chrome

Skype  Installer

Autorecover in Microsoft Word 2007

A sudden blackout may interrupt works, especially when we are using word processor like Microsoft Word. If we haven’t saved a document we are working on, power loss may cause loss of entire work. There is Autosave feature in Microsoft Word to prevent data losses because of sudden blackout.
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By default, Microsoft Word always saves opened document every 10 minutes. This means sudden power failure only makes a user loses data typed 10 minutes ago at most. To minimize loss, Autosave should be set to save automatically every 1 minute. To change this setting, click Office Button in Top Left window of Microsoft Word 2007 – choose Word Option – click Save tab. Change Save Autorecover information every to 1 minute. Now MS Word will automatically save document every 1 minutes.

After sudden power loss, MS Word will automatically open autosaved file, at most user only loses data typed 1 minute before power loss. This is autorecover data, and should be saved with another name to save it permanently.
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jwgkvsq.vmx : A tool to remove

Do you ever have Recycler folder in your flash disk? There is a file named jwgkvsq.vmx inside it. It duplicates to every flash disk attached to infected computer.

It is called Conficker, in my experience it isn’t really dangerous. I call it annoying, not dangerous. It is annoying for it duplicates itself to every FD attached to USB. We could have complaint from others who use our computer or those who have data travelers.

I got a tool to remove this Conficker. This small toll scans all drives and registry. After scan completed, reboot is required. An additional feature from Microsoft is needed to prevent repeated infection. Download  this tool here.

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How to share printer through network

One benefit of networking is it is ability to share a printer connected to a computer to network. So, a printer does not need to be moved every time to print certain documents. As long as printer is connected to a computer, other computers in same network have ability to use it too.
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To share a printer, certain setting should be done in PC in which printer is connected:

• Go to Start - Control Panel – Printers and Faxes – right click and choose Properties on printer to be shared; in this case I use Epson Stylus T11.
• Select tab Sharing and choose Share this printer. Give a name you want (by default, in Epson T11 its name is EPSONSTy). Click OK and everything is finished

Now if a client of network want to use this shared printer, printer can be added by adding new printer in Control Panel – Printers and Faxes, choose A network printer, or printer attached to another computer, click Next and type address of shared printer. It consists of IP of computer with shared printer attached and name of shared printer, e.g. \\192.168.1.1\EpsonSty. If username and password is asked, use an account and password in computer with attached printer.

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How to identify sound card model in your PC

Sometimes, we can't find anywhere CD driver of our PC motherboard contains drivers for sound card, LAN card, and VGA card. Usually, Windows XP is able to identify these card if it is not on-board (included in motherboard circuit). Any card inserted to PCI is usually recognized by Windows XP, but on-board cards (usually sound and VGA cards) are rarely recognized without 3rd party drivers.

To identify sound card, please look at a small IC chip located in bottom left of motherboard, it is so small so look carefully at what written on this chip (location within red boundary in the picture). It is a usual location for sound card circuit in motherboard. If your motherboard has sound card from Realtek, C-media, etc, its model is written right on the black surface of the chip. After that we can use Google to search and download its driver. There many available driver in internet, just pick the correct one!

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Solving Error: Generic Host Process for Win32 Services

Computer with Windows XP SP2 OS occasionally has this typical error. An error message appears and disturbing several service.  I met this problem when my computer has its printer shared to network (I don’t know other disturbed services). When this error message appears printer sharing won’t work, computer should be rebooted to make it normal again, no other options. Trouble is worsening when error appears when printer is in operation, printer stops to print in the middle of document printed.

This error can be eliminated through editing registry, but it is just like paracetamol, reducing pain but disease still remain. Error message won’t appear but printer sharing still in trouble.
 
I solved this problem by updating Windows XP SP2 to Windows XPS P3 through internet connection. I think this is the simplest solution, after all this error is completely solved. It is just connecting computer to internet and update it to SP3, and BUZZ! Everything solved.
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