Using Windows XP built in CD Writing Functionality A simple “drag ‘n drop” experience

Windows XP includes a built in functionality to allow simple CD burning using the CD as a regular folder.

This functionality treats all files as data, so you cannot use it to copy Audio CDs or Video CDs. It is used to save any file on CD-ROMs, including mp3, avi, mpeg etc…

Using this functionality is extremely simple:

1. Insert a blank CD in the CD writer drive (the CD doesn’t have to be completely blank but must have enough empty space, and more importantly, must not have a closed session. In other words, not used with other CD writing software like Nero for example).
2. Copy ‘n paste, or drag ‘n drop, or save your files to the CD drive as if it was a folder (the CD drive on our laptops and on the Centre’s computers is normally drive E: )
3. When all the files you need are there, open the File menu and click “write these files to CD”














4. You can always use this CD in the same manner again and again until it is full.

Creating an Unsheilded Twisted-Pair (UTP) Cable for Ethernet Using RJ-45 Connectors

The following guidelines are used to connect a 4-pair (that is, eight individual wire) Unsheilded Twisted-Pair (UTP) copper cable to an RJ-45 connector. This figure shows the typical arrangement of wires, and follows the Electronic Industry Association/Telecommunications Industry Association's (EIA/TIA) Standard 568B.

Straight-Through Cables

A “straight-through” cable has the wiring shown in Figure 4.6 at both ends of the cable (i.e., pins 1-8 on one end of the cable correspond to pins 1-8 on the other end of the cable). Straight-through cables are used to connect two devices of differing types. For example, straight-through cables connect: computer-to-switch, computer-to-patch-panel, and computer-to-modem.


















Cross-Over Cables

In “cross-over” cables one end has the has Figure 4.6 and the other end changes the orange and green pairs. Cross-over cables are used to connect two devices of the same type. For example, cross-over cables connect: computer-to-computer, switch-to-switch, and modem-to-modem.

The arrangement of wires for cross over cables is as follows:

Web Search Engines

Search engines are computer programs that travel the Web, gather the text of Web pages and make it possible to search for them. Please keep in mind that no search engine covers the entire Web. In fact, experts estimate that the largest search engines cover only 15% of the World Wide Web. No search engine is completely up to date. Search engines are rugged individualists—none of them index the same Web information, and none of them are searched the same way. It is imperative that you take the time to read the help screens before using any search engine.

How Can I Learn to Use Search Engines?
Excellent tutorials can be found at:
1.www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/
2.http://library.albany.edu/internet

Are There Rules of Thumb for Learning to Use Search Engines?
1.Thoroughly learn to use one or two of the simple search engines such as Google.
2.Learn one meta-search engine such as Vivisimo www.vivisimo.com
3.Learn one complex search engine such as All the Web Advanced Search.

What Are Some Good Search Engines?

All the Web
www.alltheweb.com
An excellent simple search engine that is very similar to Google in that it ranks results according to the number of pages linked to them. Its Advanced Search option permits full Boolean searching.

The Rules
1.All the Web reads spaces between words as the Boolean “and”.
2.Put multi-word phrases in quotation marks “united states”.
3.All the Web is case insensitive. “United States” is identical to “united states”.
4.All the Web does not permit wildcards.
5.All the Web simple search allows for Boolean “and” with a + sign, and Boolean not with a –
6.All the Web simple search enables searching for News, Pictures, Video, Audio and FTP files.
7.All the Web permits field limiters. A field limiter requires that a key word or phrase appear in a specific section of a Web page. The title limiter is perhaps the most useful in that if a search is confined to only the title of a Web page, it is likely that the results will be on topic.
url:football
link:www.mongtgomerycollege.edu
title:”Libraries’ Home Page”
seize language:fr (seize means 16 in French)
8.All the Web advanced search permits the use of Boolean operators,”and” “or”. Not is
written “andnot.”
9.All the Web’s advanced search includes several other filters.

Google
www.google.com
One of the largest, fastest and easiest to use simple search engines. Google puts pages that have the most pages linked to them at the top of the search results list. This simple strategy is a surprisingly effective method of finding good sites quickly.

The Rules

1.Google reads spaces between words as the Boolean“and” .
2.Google simple search permits or when input in ALL CAPS (horses OR riding).
3.Be sure to put any multi-word phrase in quotation marks: “united states”.
4.Google is case insensitive: Google reads “United States” and “united states” identically.
5.Use + signs to include stop words in your search +in +the gloaming .
6.Use – signs to exclude words saturn –car -automobile .
7.Google does not permit Wildcards.
8.You may field limit on the Google main search page by typing the kind of limit you wish,a colon, and then the keywords. title:hmo lawsuits . Google allows for field limits similar to those outlined for All the Web, above.
9.Google permits searching for pictures Usenet Newsgroups and an excellent Subject Directory. It does not have an easy method of searching for audio, video or FTP files.
10.Google Advanced Search is excellent and can be reached by clicking on Advanced Search
On the Google Advanced Search :
“with all of the words” is equivalent to the Boolean “AND.”
“with any of the words” is equivalent to the Boolean “OR.”
“without the words” is equivalent to the Boolean “NOT.”
“with the exact phrase” is equivalent to putting a phrase.
You may limit by language, date, format etc.
Use “Occurrences” to limit by field.

Perform an Installation of Windows XP Professional

In this exercise, you perform a clean installation of Windows XP Professional. If you need to perform an upgrade instead (not recommended), you will perform many of the same steps, but you must enter the Setup program differently. See your instructor for help.

1. Insert the Microsoft Windows XP Professional CD in the CD drive on your computer.
2. The Setup.exe program should launch automatically. If it does not, navigate to the CD drive, and double click Setup.exe.
3. On the first Setup screen, click Enter to begin the setup












4. On the End User License Agreement page, click F8 to accept the license agreement.












5. The next page lets you select your partitioning option.












6. Select the file system with which to format the selected partition, and then press Enter.
The partition will be formatted, and the computer will restart in graphical user interface (GUI) mode.
7. On the Regional and Language Options page, select the appropriate options, and then click Customize to change the locale or keyboard settings from the default. Locale settings affect how numbers, currencies, and dates appear. When you are finished, click Next.














8. On the Personalize Your Software page, enter a user name and an organization name, and then click Next. Check with your instructor for the values to enter on this page.
9. Enter the product key supplied with your Windows XP CD, and then click Next.
10. Enter a Computer Name and an Administrator Password. You should have a consistent naming convention for computers. Your instructor will supply this information.
11. On the next page, enter a date and time setting, and then click Next.
12. On the Network Settings page, select a Typical or Custom installation. A Custom installation enables you to select various networking protocols, and to assign static IP addresses to computers.














13. On the Workgroup or Computer Domain page, determine if you want to install the computer in a workgroup or a domain. These options are explained below.
Installing in a Workgroup: If the school does not have a domain, but you want this computer to be networked with other local computers, enter the name of a workgroup that contains those other computers.
Installing in a Domain: If your school has a domain, and you want to join the computer to it, you need to provide domain credentials (a user name and password) for a domain user account that is allowed to join computers to the domain. By default, each user with an account in a domain can join up to 10 computers to the domain.Once you have made your selection, click Next. The computer will restart
14. At first logon, you are prompted to activate this copy of Windows XP Professional. If you are connected to the Internet, select Activate Now. If the computer is not connected to the Internet, ask your instructor how to activate this copy of Windows XP Professional. If you fail to Activate Windows XP Professional within 30 days of installation, it will become unusable until activated.