Tuesday

Great Corporate Gift Ideas

If you want to build good relations with the people you are doing business with you can use chocolate gifts to promote your business.
Those gifts can be given to employees, clients, partners, customers and vendors on all kinds of occasions and for different reasons, such as; holidays like Christmas gift and Easter, to show appreciation or to give support in difficult times like sickness or grief.
What better gift can there be than a corporate chocolate gift?
Chocolate will in most cases be well received since it is a treat that almost everyone loves dearly. In those times, when everyone has everything they need, corporate gifts is the perfect choice to show the people you're doing business with your appreciation.
To give Christmas corporate gifts with your company's logo on the wrapper really gives a great impression. A great idea as a Christmas gift for you employees is to create a chocolate gift basket and to put all sorts of chocolate in it that has your specially designed wrapper. Or give it as an extra addition to other gifts to bring about a bit of extra flavor. For corporate events it's a great idea to have your chocolate with your own design and give to the people attaining the event, in this way you make a lasting positive impression on customers and clients. You ensure that your business will be remembered when its logo is connected to a decadent treat.
If you have a special client that you want to give an extra treat, a designed truffle box with your logo on and some gourmet truffles inside really is the perfect gift. Chocolate has the property to be well received by all and after all, we all love to receive a gift and it can never be wrong or inappropriate.
The wrappers can be designed with any message you want to bring forth to the person that's to receive the corporate chocolate gift. If you have closed a deal you can send a gift that has a few words of appreciation on the wrapper. This can really be of great aid when you want to maintain good relations with clients and partners.
It is an easy process to have your own corporate chocolate gift designed and you ensure that you bring in good-will in your work environment and relations. It is loved by all of us and this is why it never can go wrong.

Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Great-Corporate-Gift-Ideas&id=1597605

3 Simple Ways To Save A Bunch Of Money When Buying A New Computer!

For most people, buying a new computer does not have to be as stressful as buying a new car. Nor does it have to be as expensive. If you’re like most people, and you have a limited budget for buying a computer, then you need to try to get as much computer for your money as possible.

Here are 3 simple ways anyone can save money when buying a new computer:

1) Shop around for best deal.

Sounds pretty obvious. But many people don’t realize they don’t need the fastest, most expensive computer with the most “extras”. In fact, if you are already using an older computer, even the least expensive new computer will be a big upgrade. If you don’t know a lot about computers, you can learn a lot by shopping around. Ask lots of questions, compare prices, compare features, then find the best price. Shop at your local electronics store, and look for the best deals online. You’ll be surprised at how much money you can save by shopping around!

2) Install your own “extras”

Many computers you will find in a store have a lot of extra software already installed. While this is convenient, it is not always the best way for you to save money. Also, while many of these extras sound good, you don’t always need them. You can often find better deals by shopping around separately for your own software extras (such as a word processor, anti-virus, popup blocker, spyware removal, games, etc). And some of these you can get for free. So before you buy the “fully loaded” computer, ask yourself if you really need all the extras, then shop around to see if you can buy a scaled down computer - and get the extras yourself for much less!

3) Don’t buy extended warranty

If you are not a computer “techie”, the extended warranties offered by the computer retailers often sound like a good idea. After all, who wants to be bothered paying for service on a computer after you buy it. But keep in mind that most computers come with a warranty, and most computer problems will either happen at the beginning (when you still have the warranty in effect) or much later (when it might be cheaper to buy a new computer). Technology changes very quickly these days. So consider whether or not it’s worth the inflated price of the extended warranty. And, if you really feel you need the extended warranty, then ask to purchase it at a lower price. Not all retailers will negotiate on the warranty, but some will. And whether you buy the extended warranty or not, make sure you back up all your files periodically, just in case!

If you have an unlimited budget, consider yourself lucky. And if you do business on the computer, make sure you get what you need, while trying to keep the price down. At any price, buying something that does not fit your needs is not a good deal.

Hope you find these tips helpful, and happy computer shopping!

Thursday

Troubleshooting & Checklist

The most common problem with any new PC build is partially made or improper connections. Most of the troubleshooting procedures in this blog require that the cover be removed form the PC and that some components be removed or reconnected. For this reason, it's best to plug in the PC through a switched power strip, so you can use the power strip switch to isolate the system from the electrical supply before every repair attempt.

Most people, even professional technicians, tend to get a little sloppy when troubleshooting, often accidentally introducing a new problem to replace the old. The main key to any type of troubleshooting is to go one step at a time. That way, when the original problem is corrected, you'll know exactly what did the trick, and if you create a new problem, you'll know what went wrong.

We will address five basic scenarios in this blog, ranging from a stone dead system to a lack of functionality, such as a modem that won't connect. Although these procedures will uncover most assembly errors, there is often no way to isolate a dead component without having other known good parts to swap out. In the world of professional PC troubleshooting and repair, the "swap' till you drop" strategy is still the most common troubleshooting technique employed. Swapping components requires no expensive diagnostics software or hardware and is usually the quickest way to isolate a problem. Another reason to steer clear of specialized diagnostics tools is that they are geared to identifying problems with subcomponents that can't be fixed anyway. Finding out exactly which address is bad in the system RAM or in the cache memory of a drive or motherboard is of little use when you'll have to replace the whole assembly anyway.

These troubleshooting procedures are for a newly built PC. If you have been using the PC for some time for any new problem that arises you have to consider the possibility of a computer virus. One way to check whether you have a hardware problem or a virus problem at boot time is to boot from your original operating system CD. If you do contract a virus, there are many virus doctor programs you can buy with a reasonable certainty they will fix the problem, but you may need Internet access to download the latest virus inoculations form the manufacturer's Web site.

In general, if you computer a serious recurring software problem with your PC, and you has good backups of any important data, the most reliable fix is to wipe clean the hard drive by deleting the primary partition with the FDISK program and reinstall the software form scratch. Just be really sure you have the original CDs and serial numbers for all the software you use, in addition to good data backups, because once you FDISK, it's all gone. Before running FDISK, confirm that your operating system CD will boot!

Caution: We cannot reiterate enough times that you should disconnect power from the system before making any change inside the case; then reconnect after each change to check the result. If you smell a burnt electronics odor at any time, you have a blown component and should not attempt powering up again until it is found and replaced and the cause of the failure is determined.


Stone DeadYou switch on your new system and there are no signs of life. The power supply fan doesn't turn; there are no sounds, no lights.

· Make sure the power cord is fully inserted into the power supply, the override switch on the back of the supply (if so equipped) is turned on, and the voltage switch is set correctly. Don't neglect to make sure the wall socket you are plugged into is live by unplugging the computer and plugging a radio or lamp to check.
· Recheck the motherboard documentation for the proper connection of the leads from the front panel power switch. Don't settle for just looking at the switch connection to the motherboard; remove the lead, check that the terminal block matches the documentation, and then reconnect it. Undo the main power supply connection to the motherboard (this requires pressing in the clasp as you pull gently on the connector), inspect the connector for damage, and reconnect. On Pentium 4 systems make sure you have connected the additional 12V header.
· Search for shorted components by disconnecting the power cables and ribbon cables from the drives; one drive at a time, retrying power up after each drive is disconnected. Without reconnecting the drives, remove each adapter card (leave video for last) one at a time, retrying power up after each removal.
· Remove and reinstall memory DIMMs or RIMMs, inspecting for physical damage. Remove and reinstall the heatsink and CPU, double checking the CPU fan is connected to the proper terminal on the motherboard. Never attempt to power up the system without the heatsink installed.
· In extremely rare cases, the power switch on the front panel may be faulty. You can use a continuity else that could cause a short circuit to the motherboard circuitry. Reinstall the motherboard in the case and reinstall the video adapter, then try powering up.

If you still have no power, the problem is most likely a defective power supply or motherboard.

Power Comes On; Screen Is DeadYou hear the power come on and the drives spinning up, but the screen remains blank.

· Make sure the monitor is plugged into a good power outlet by switching wall sockets with the power supply cord. If the power cord is not permanently attached to the monitor, make sure it is fully inserted in the socket on the back of the monitor. If your monitor is equipped with manual dials for brightness and contrast, make sure they are in the middle of their range.
· Remove the monitor connector form the video card and check that none of the pins in the shell are bent over. Note that some missing pins in the three-row high-density connector are normal.
· Remove and reseat the video adapter, making sure the hold down screw doesn't cause the back end of the adapter to lift partially out of the bus slot.
· Check for a defective or conflicting adapter on the bus. Remove any other adapters installed, one by one, rechecking power after each. Don’t forget to unplug the power supply, or turn off the power strip or override switch before each removal.
· Double-check the motherboard documentation for overlooked CPU selection switches or jumpers settings. Depending on the motherboard used, CPU selection might be automatic. Don’t take the manual at its word that default settings are set; check the actual switch and jumper positions on the motherboard.
· Double-check that CPU and memory modules are seated properly, particularly slot-type CPUs, which can take a good deal of pressure to mate correctly with the motherboard.

If you still have no live screen, the problem is likely defective hardware. Make sure the case speaker is properly connected to the motherboard as per the motherboard documentation. If you hear a series of beeps, note the number and sequence, s they will pinpoint the defective component. The motherboard documentation or manufacturer Web site should give the codes, although the most likely candidate for beeps on a dead screen is the video adapter. If no beeps sound, the most likely candidates are a dead monitor (easily checked by connecting it to another system), a defective motherboard, or a defective power supply. In some instances, you may have bad RAM or a bad video adapter but still not hear any beep codes.

Screen Comes On; No BootYou get text appearing onscreen, but the PC either won’t try to boot or locks up in the process.

No onscreen messages indicating boot failure.
Enter CMOS Setup by following onscreen instructions (usually by pressing the DEL or F1 key) after power up. Select the CMOS option to Restore Default Settings or similarly phrased option, save and reboot. Note: If you cannot access Setup, double-check that the keyboard and mouse connectors aren’t interchanged. If you still can’t access Setup, disconnect power and remover all adapters except the video and disconnect the drives. If you still can’t access Setup, you have some defective hardware, most likely the motherboard, although it could still be the RAM or CPU. These core components should always be bought from the same source to simplify return issues.
If there are still no messages indicating boot failure, enter CMOS Setup again and make sure the CPU speed setting, bus clock frequency, and IDE interface speed don’t exceed your component ratings.
If the system hangs at Verifying DMI Data Pool, it is usually a motherboard or IDE device problem. If you have an option to enable Reset Configuration Data, use it. Disconnect your IDE cables from the motherboard and see if you can get as far as a Drive Failure or No Boot Device message. If not, the motherboard will probably need replacing, although you can try discharging the onboard battery first by using the jumper setting in the motherboard manual for disabling a forgotten password.
Missing operating system or no boot device message.· Check that the IDE cables are connected to the drives and motherboard properly by removing and reinstalling them. Make sure the power connectors to all the drives are properly installed. Make sure the master / slave jumpers for the drives are installed properly.
· If the system tries to boot a CD and fails, it may just be bad timing. Strangely enough, some high-speed CD drives take so long to get up to speed that the BIOS (motherboard logic) gives up on them before they get there. If the screen displays a message such as “Insert CD and hit any key when ready,” eject the CD tray; then push it back in, but wait until you hear the drive spin up before pressing a key to continue. It might take a few efforts to get this right if it’s going to work.
· Check that the operating system CD is readable in another system, and don’t try using pirated operating system software on home recorded CDs.
· Enter CMOS Setup and rearrange the boot sequence so that the CD-ROM or the IDE channel to which it is connected is selected as the first boot device. This shouldn’t be necessary, but it will help if a previous attempt to install the operating system failed, leaving the hard drive appearing bootable to the motherboard.
· Simplify the system by removing any additional drives so all you have left are a “master” hard drive on the primary IDE channel. If it doesn’t work, as a final check try both drives on the primary controller with the CD as the “slave.”

Boots; Locks Up During Or After OS InstallEverything appears to be working fine, right up through formatting the hard drive. But, at some point during the operating system installation or immediately after, the PC locks up.

First check with your parts vendor or operating system manufacturer for known compatibility issues. Also be aware that some CDRs and combination drives have problems with operating system install, which usually manifests itself as a “read error”.
Unplug the power and remove all adapters except the video adapter. Install the operating system. Next install the motherboard drivers from the CD that shipped with the motherboard and the video adapter driver from its own CD. Install any other adapters one at a time, reconnect power and reboot, allowing the operating system to deal with them individually.
Make sure you are using the approved cabling for any high-performance parts such as 80-conductor ribbon cables with Ultra 66 or Ultra 100 hard drives, because communication breakdowns at high speeds are likely to show up under the load of operating system installation.
In some rare cases, operating system installation can fail repeatedly because a borderline component is suffering a heat-related failure as the system warms up. This is extremely difficult to troubleshoot without parts to swap out, and if you bring the parts back to the point of purchase, it might be hard to convince the vendor that the problem isn’t in your imagination. Make sure the CPU heatsink is properly installed, the heatsink fan is working, and you aren’t building the system in a hot attic in the summer. Go through the steps related to CMOS Setup in scenario 3 and document all the troubleshooting steps you go through for the vendor. Try reinstalling the operating system several times with no adapter other than video before concluding that you have a hardware failure.

Boots and Runs
If you operating system installation goes smoothly but you have trouble accessing a particular device, the problem is as likely to be software as hardware. Extensive software troubleshooting is outside the scope of this website, but we will mention some of the key points you can check in Windows operating systems.

Hard Drive
· Any message indicating a hard drive read or write failure is a hardware error. Try replacing the ribbon cable, making sure you use the newer 80-conductor type.
· Isolate the hard drive on its own IDE channel, moving any other drives to the secondary channel on their own cable or temporarily disconnecting them.
· If the hard drive is excessively noisy or makes a continual clunking sound, it has suffered internal damage and odds are even an expensive data recovery outfit won’t be able to help

CD or DVD Drive
If the drive has trouble reading a particular disc, try wiping off any fingerprints with a clean flannel shirt. Note rewriteable discs written in CDRs and DVDRs are often unreadable in other drives.
For continual read errors, try all the steps for hard drive troubleshooting new IDE cable, isolation, and swapping IDE hard drives, so isolating them on their own controller will often fix the problem.
If you can’t play music CDs even though your speakers work with other computer sounds, the thin audio cable from the sound card (or motherboard with integrated sound) to the four-pin connector on the back of the drive is improperly installed or missing.
If you record music CDs on our PC and they won’t in your stereo, make sure you are using CDR blanks, not CDRW.
If you have a CDR or DVDR and your write sessions often fail, try recording at a lower speed and make sure you are using media certified for at least the speed at which you are recording.

Getting back you lost data

Chances are, if you are reading this article, you have either lost some important data, or someone has lost the Data for you. If this lost information is critical to the success of a current job or business, or perhaps there is sentimental value place on the lost data, consider using the expert services of a data recovery company. From damaged hardware or crashed software, lost computer files to memory cards, most data recovery companies can assist in the retrieval of your lost data.There are many data recovery companies to choose from, be sure that you investigate the experience and services supplied by your chosen data recovery expert. The internet can be a great source of information regarding various data recovery specialists, visit their web sites to find information on their facilities, services and experience in the industry. Check web sites of data recovery companies to read testimonials of past clients. Most people use data recovery services to save money and time, some lost data can be important to the success of a particular business, therefore data recovery services can be the answer you are looking for.Most professional data recovery companies will make the process very easy for their clients, if you have lost some data, stop what you are doing and call in the professionals to arrange pick-up of the memory storage facility or damaged hardware/software. Your chosen data recovery company will guide you through the process of data retrieval or take care of the project themselves. Ensure that the data recovery company you choose can offer many services to suit most technology and the skilled staff to ensure your lost files are retrieved.Data Recovery specialists can usually fix any data loss situation. Data recovery experts are equipped with the software and technical know-how to retrieve most lost data. There are many factors which can contribute to data loss – from accidental deletions to technical failure such as a crashed hard drive. Find a data recovery firm which specializes in your particular area of problem. Choose a data recovery company which can do the best job with the skilled staff and technical resources to face any data recovery issue.So, if you have some technical problem and think you may have lost some important data, call the experts in to retrieve lost data, save yourself time and money by using Data Recovery services. Modern technology, though high-tech and advanced, can still be unreliable, this is when you will need the services of a data recovery professional.

Saturday

Diamond Rings: What To Look Out For

Clarity is one of the four C's that impacts the quality of the diamond. It refers to the quantity of flaws found in a diamond. These flaws are imperfections caused by mistakes in cutting or that arise from the original rock. A diamond with poor clarity will have faults that are conspicuous, even to the naked eye. They will not look pleasing set in diamond rings, and have low resell value. In contrast, a diamond with great clarity is highly coveted by collectors, and will be a gift of true value to loved ones. 

Flaws can be grouped into two; external flaws are called blemishes, whereas flaws within the diamond, that can alter its ability to reflect light, are called inclusions. Since inclusions get in the way of a diamond's sparkle, they can reduce the value of a diamond more, but they can also be useful. Inclusions can be used to identify particular diamonds as a sort of diamond fingerprint. This can be used to secure your diamond rings. 

Diamonds are graded based on how easy it is to perceive these flaws. This grading occurs while they are still loose diamonds. There are several gemological organizations worldwide that have developed separate grading systems, although in many cases they are very similar. You should familiarize yourself with the grading system used in the store where you buy your diamond. When shopping for diamond rings, you will want to assess the clarity of the diamond above anything else. Clarity is one of the main factors used in determining a diamond's monetary value. It is a standard employed by gemological organizations across the board. 

To ensure you get diamonds of the highest clarity, get loose diamonds first. You can make an ocular inspection of the diamonds before buying. You can ask the jeweler for a loupe or magnifier so that you can view them under 10 x magnification. If they are unwilling to let you take a closer look, you may as well look elsewhere.

Be careful when picking jewelry stores as well. One store may be offering rock cheap prices, or limited period sales. Don't just think of saving up money now; you'll get stuck with trifling baubles ten years later. You'll want to get diamonds of lasting value. You can buy a good quality diamond at a reasonable price, if you take the time to learn about diamonds.

When shopping for diamond rings, you will want to assess the clarity of the diamond above anything else. Clarity is one of the main factors used in determining a diamond's monetary value. Don't look at jewelry stores at face value. To ensure you get diamonds of the highest clarity, get loose diamonds first. You can buy a good quality diamond at a reasonable price, if you take the time to learn about diamonds.

Tuesday

Ancient Ostia Rome Tour

On a trip to Rome the ancient Ostia port is often overlooked by travelers visiting Rome even if the harbour of Ostia Antica is often compared to the city of Pompeii for its beauty with mosaics and columns everywhere! The Ancient Ostia Rome day tour is a great day trip from Rome to enjoy a day off from the hustles and bustles of the Etenal City of Rome.

16 miles southwest of Rome the ancient city of Ostia was Rome’s main commercial port. A short drive from Rome the superb and well-preserved archaeological excavations of Ostia offer an excellent idea of the daily life under the Roman Empire. A guided tour of Ostia is an easy half day tour from Rome for families visiting Rome with teens happy to leisurely wander around the Roman theatre, the impressive Roman Forum, a large baths complex and residential villas with greenery courtyards.

Since 1997 Nancy Aiello Tours ( www.NancyAielloTours.com ) offers its valuable guests visiting Rome, Italy the most comprehensive selection of private Rome city tours, walking Rome tours, Rome Museum Tours, Vatican and Sistine Chapel religious Rome tours, Rome by-night Rome tours, Rome culinary tours and private Rome cookery lessons, and highly customized private Rome tours escorted by dynamic and experienced certified official Rome tour private guides.
Fist timers in Rome, families visiting Rome with kids, senior citizens traveling to Rome eager to experience Rome in full will be assisted during their Roman holiday with the highest level of customer service and courtesy.

Professional Italy Tour Planning Company Nancy Aiello Tours provides comprehensive and enjoyable private Vatican and Rome Tours, Rome Day Tours, Rome Excursions escorted by Qualified English, Spanish, French, German, Russian, Hebrew and Chinese speaking Licensed Rome Tour Guides.
For your entertaining and informative private guided tours of Rome please, contact Nancy Aiello Tours at info@nancyaiellotours.com

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