This page contains answers to common questions handled by our support staff, along with some tips and tricks that we have found useful and presented here as questions.

Note: In these answers we will follow a few shorthand conventions for describing user-interface procedures. Key combinations will be presented like this: Ctrl+Alt+Delete, which means that you should press and hold down the Control key, the Alt key, and the Delete key at the same time. Menu selections will be presented like this: File->Open, which means that you should open the File menu, and then make the Open selection.

1. How do I ... ?
2. Why doesn't my local area network work ?
3. Why doesn't the internet work ?
4. What is ... ?
5. Why does my computer freeze

How do I ... ?

1. Start Sharing Files or Directories with other computers on my network

   a) From the task bar: Start->Settings->Control Panel
   b) Click network icon twice
   c) Click File->Print Sharing
   d) Select the check box for the sharing options you want
   e) Click OK

2. Share a specific file or folder

   a) In Windows Explorer or My Computer, click the folder you want to share.
   b) On the File menu, click Properties.
   c) Click the Sharing tab, and then click Shared As.
   d) Click the Access Type you want, and, if necessary, enter a password.

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Why can't I see other computers in my network ?

1. You did not log using a username and password.
2. Your network cable is not properly connected.
3. The network hub is not turned on.
4. The other computers in the network are not turned on.
5. You or others disabled file sharing on your computer.

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Why doesn't the Internet work?

There are a number of reasons why the Internet connection might fail:

1. The Internet service provider could have problems with their servers.

   Call your service provider to verify if they are experiencing problems in your area

2. If you are using your phone line to connect, the telephone line could be busy, or a message is waiting on Bell's  answering service.

   Check if the phone has dial tone

3. If you are using a high speed connection the modem could be stuck

   Check to see if the modem has power, the "Online" light is solid green -if not- reset the modem by turning it off and on again

4. Your computer might be in a damaged mode

   Restart you computer

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What is ... ?

1. Network Hub

   A device that allows several computers to connect to each other

2. Modem

   An electronic devices that convert digital data signals into analog signals suitable for transmission over analog telecommunications circuits. Modems thus make it possible for established phone systems to support a wide variety of data communication, such as the Internet.

3. Firewall

   In computer security, a device that blocks unauthorized access to an organization's local area network (LAN). A firewall can reside on the administrative computer (the server) that acts as the local area network's gateway to the Internet or it can be a dedicated computer placed between the local area network and the Internet, so that the network is never in direct contact with the Internet. The firewall also keeps track of every file entering or leaving the local area network in order to detect the sources of viruses and other problems that might enter the network.

4. LAN

   Local Area Network, a collection of interconnected computers that can share data, applications, and resources, such as printers. Computers in a LAN are separated by small distances of a few meters or up to a few kilometres and are typically used in offices or homes with multiple computers. A LAN enables the fast and effective transfer of information within a group of users and reduces operational costs.

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Why does my computer freeze

Computers can freeze for a variety of reasons. If you're using software when your computer "crashes," it might be due to a bug or problem in the program. Some programs make heavy use of memory and don't release all the memory assigned to it when the program closes. Then when you start up another program, the computer might not have all the memory it needs and your computer crashes. Over time, your computer's amount of fragmented memory can increase to a point where your computer runs very inefficiently. 

There could also be other problems with incompatible hardware such as a video card or sound card that doesn't work well with the main board. Also, operating systems such as Windows have a "registry" that controls Windows programs. 

Registry damage can cause your computer to freeze or send you error messages. Another cause of crashes is bad drivers. Sometimes drivers have bugs in them. Often, users are not notified of fixes although patches can be found on the internet if you suspect a bug in certain driver.

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