cInet Do-It-Yourself PC UPGRADE PROJECTS phần 2

14 Part I: Easy 5. Click OK. Windows closes the Removable Disk Properties dialog box and starts using the drive for ReadyBoost. You should now see a performance improvement, especially during long com-puting sessions or when you have many applications and documents open. However, the difference may not be dramatic. Step 5: Remove a ReadyBoost Device For best effect, you should leave the memory device attached all the time you use your PC. This is easy to do with a desktop PC, where you can plug in a USB memory stick and simply leave it, but having a memory stick protruding from a laptop PC tends to be awkward—so you’ll probably want to remove it. To remove the memory device, follow these steps: 1. Click the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the notifi-cation area (the icon with the green circle containing a white check mark). 2. On the menu that appears, click the Safely Remove USB Mass Storage Device item for the drive. 3. When Windows displays the Safe To Remove Hardware dialog box, click OK, and then unplug the device. Windows mirrors all the data that’s stored on the ReadyBoost device in a file on your hard disk, so removing your ReadyBoost device doesn’t have any bad effects— Windows simply retrieves the data it needs from the hard disk rather than from the ReadyBoost device. Now that you’ve maxed out your memory, and maybe turbocharged performance using ReadyBoost, your PC should be running well. It’s time to turn your attention to your Internet connection—is it fast enough, and if not, could it be faster? Project 2 Get the Fastest Possible Internet Connection What You’ll Need ● Hardware: Modem, router, or satellite dish ● Software: None ● Cost: $10–50 U.S. per month ogetthemostuseandenjoymentoutofyourPCthesedays,you’llwanttoconnect ittotheInternet.Andnotjustwithanyoldconnection—preferablywiththefastest connection possible. This project discusses your options for choosing a fast Internet connection and shows you how to proceed. Step 1: Find Out How Fast Your Internet Connection Is First, find out how fast your Internet connection is—if you haven’t already checked. You can find various utilities and sites on the Internet for checking connection speed and throughput. Here, we’ll use one of the easiest sites, the CNET Bandwidth Meter. To use the Bandwidth Meter, follow these steps: 1. Launch your web browser and go to http://reviews.cnet.com/7004-7254_ 7-0.html (see Figure 2-1). 2. Type your area code in the Area Code text box. 3. IntheChooseYourCurrentConnectionTypearea,selecttheappropriateoption button. 4. In the Select Your ISP drop-down list, choose your current ISP. This step is optionalbutmayenabletheBandwidthMetertomakebetterrecommendations of Internet connection upgrades available to you. 15 16 Part I: Easy Figure 2-1 The CNET Bandwidth Meter Speed Test lets you check your Internet connection’s throughput via a web page. 5. Click Go. The Bandwidth Meter runs the test, during which it displays an information screen, and then displays the results page. Figure 2-2 shows an example. 6. If you want, click one of the Find ISP or ISP name links in the Faster Provid-ers column to find out about faster connections. But before you do, it may be a good idea to assess the different types of Internet connection available and decide which would suit you best—assuming it’s available. Step 2: Assess Your Options for a Faster Connection In the beginning was the modem—and for many people, that’s still as far as Internet connectivity has progressed. But in most places you can get a much faster connec-tion, even if it costs more than you would like to pay. This section walks you through Project 2: Get the Fastest Possible Internet Connection 17 Figure 2-2 The Bandwidth Meter results page shows you an estimate of your current connection speed, together with faster options and providers. the commonly available Internet connection technologies, starting with the slowest and speeding up to the fastest. Once you know your options, you’ll be able to decide which connection type makes sense for you. Table 2-1 provides a generalized summary of widely available connection options in descending order of preference—in other words, with the best connections first. Dial-Up Connections Adial-up connection using a modem is normally the slowest form of Internet connec-tion, but it works almost anywhere you can find a phone line and is usually reliable. On the downside, a dial-up connection is not only slow at transferring data but also slow to connect, typically taking 10–30 seconds to establish a connection. 18 Part I: Easy Location Urban or suburban Rural Connection types 1. Fiber 2. DSL or cable 3. Wireless 4. Satellite 5. ISDN 6. Dial-up 1. DSL (if near to a substation) 2. Satellite 3. ISDN 4. Dial-up Table 2-1 Typical Connection Options in Descending Order of Preference These days, a dial-up connection is practical for e-mail or text-only instant messag-ing, but for most other Internet activities you will find its limitations difficult. See the sidebar“GettheMostOutofaDial-upConnection”forsuggestionsonmaximizingthe use of a dial-up connection while minimizing the irritation its slowness can cause. The fastest dial-up connection you can get is 53.6 Kbps using a 56 Kbps modem. However, even this speed requires a good-quality telephone line and suitable equip-ment at the exchange. In practice, speeds of 33.6 to 48 Kbps are normal. The longer the distance from your modem to the ISP, and the greater the number of devices between the two, the slower the connection is likely to be. Get the Most Out of a Dial-Up Connection If you’re stuck with a dial-up connection, first make sure that your connection is working as well as possible. Here are three suggestions: ● Keep your connection open Get a flat-rate (“all you can eat”) con-nection from your ISP and telephone provider. Configure Windows never to drop the connection and to redial if the connection does get dropped (for example, if the ISP drops it or if there’s a problem on the phone line). Turn off call waiting so that incoming calls don’t knock you offline. You’ll need a second phone line or a cell phone if you want to be able to make phone calls as well. ● Ensure your modem is tuned correctly Type modem tune-up into your favorite search engine to find recommendations for configuring a modem manually or modem-boosting utilities that do the tweaking for you. ... - tailieumienphi.vn