A+ Certified

CompTIA A+ ce Certified
CompTIA
January 2016

I've learned a lot about installation, repair and configuration. My A+ certification simply verifies those skills.

Do You have a MS Office Activation Code, but No Activaton CD?

I purchased a new laptop with no DVD drive and I wanted to install Microsoft Office using my activation CD. I knew I did not want to spend time creating an image. Most recently, I discovered that if you have your product activation code, you are able to download a FREE copy from Microsoft's website. In addition, Microsoft offers an option to receive a DVD version for a fee.

Steps to obtain your copy:

1. Go to Microsoft.com
2. Select Support>Office>Download, backup, restore
3. Enter your product key
• Now you have an installer file that can be placed on a storage device for future use

Tip : Installation limits still apply. So keep track of how many times you have activated the program or you will have to contact Microsoft to verify active installations.

Want An ISO Copy of Windows 10 For Free?

Microsoft offers a fresh install of Windows 10 via Microsoft.com. The best part is that you can burn
an ISO file to a DVD or USB, to install at your leisure. You must have a Windows 7 or 8.1 operating system in order to complete installation. You will be asked to provide the serial number of your current (7 or 8.1) OS.

Previously, I used the Get Windows 10 app to upgrade from 8.1 to 10. I was not happy the performance and downgraded. Recently, I decided to upgrade again, because I knew a clean install would provide more stability. In addition Microsoft no longer provides support for Windows 8. So, I presume that Windows 8.1 will be obsolete in the near future. In order to download a copy to multiple PCs you will need to download the Windows Media Creation Tool. If you select the USB option, it has to have 3 GB of available storage.

CAUTION! A clean install does not migrate apps or settings. So make sure you have a copy of your favorite app available for reinstallation, otherwise you may just want to select the upgrade option. One great thing that occurred when I completed the install, was that applications that were unstable using Windows 8.1 worked without incident using Windows 10. Hurry and get your copy. The website does say that the offer is only available for a limited time.

My Tablet Battery Died After 1 year. So I Learned How to Solder.

After about 1 year my tablet began to freeze and randomly shutdown. As recommended by the manufacturer, I factory reset the tablet. In addition I drained the battery and charged it to capacity. Even at a charge of 100 percent the tablet would still shutdown. Ultimately, I determined that the battery was faulty.

It was definitely a challenge finding a replacement battery that matched

new battery (left) original (right)

the size (LWH) of my tablet battery. I contacted the manufacturer, who explained that they do not ship replacement parts. I searched Ebay and finally found a battery that would possibly fit. I wasn't sure because there were not many with measurement descriptions listed. In the end, I looked for a similar tablet and determined my selection, based on the LWH of the actual tablet. Thankfully, that worked.

soldering kit

Next, I purchased a soldering kit for about 18 dollars.  It included a  soldering aide, soldering iron and solder. The soldering iron did come with a warning label that stated it releases harmful chemicals that cause cancer. So I also purchased a mask and ventilated the room. I watched a YouTube video called "How to Do It:Basic Soldering", because the kit did not include enough how-to information. The video was very helpful and I would recommend anyone who has never replaced a soldered battery to watch it.

First I removed the solder from the tablet, because excess can short the circuit. Then, I placed a piece of tape on the wires of the new battery, in order to keep them in place while I applied the solder. I did not want to put the tip on the wire because I did not want it to melt, but it retained heat very well. Next I applied the solder.

 

In all I spent about 28 dollars for replacement parts. It was definitely worth it versus purchasing an entirely new tablet. Replacing the battery resolved the problem, because it no longer randomly shuts down. The whole process took about 25 minutes.

Configure An Old Router as an Access Point

There is plenty of information available that informs you how to configure an access point. I have included some references below. However there is not a lot of information that tells you why you would want to add an access point. I will shed some light on adding an access point.

I used a 2.4 GHz router and made it an AP on my 5 GHz network. I was not concerned about the difference in wireless speeds on the AP because I would only primarily be using the Ethernet switch ports. However I did test both wireless and hardwired connections and did not notice a lag in speed with the devices connected to the AP.

Why Should You Add an AP?
1. Extends the coverage of your home network - wireless/Ethernet
2. Adds more switch port connections  - Ethernet
3. Money saver, versus purchasing an Ethernet switch

Tips
1. You can use a wireless and or switch port router
2. You may not want to name the AP the same name as your 1st router
          a. If there is any gray area, it may take longer to determine the issue

3. Make sure to assign the AP an IP address that is higher on the IP spectrum, avoiding duplication

          i.e. 192.XXX.XXX.250
4. Make sure to disable DHCP on the AP
5. Test the Ethernet ports of the AP to verify you have internet access before deployment

6. The process is fairly simple, it took me 20 minutes to configure both routers

Scenarios Adding An AP Would Be A Resolution?
1. Wireless signals drop in certain areas. So add an AP, in order to gain access to additional ports
2. A room in your home is too far away to obtain DHCP. So you add an AP as a resolution
3. Use the AP as media server



References
http://www.linksys.com/us/support-article?articleNum=134478
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2228IVtKLT0

Uninstall the Get Windows 10 App

The Get Windows 10 App (GWX.exe)  is borderline spam.  So I decided to uninstall the update (KB3035583) and I listed the steps below.


Step 1: Go to Control Panel
Step 2: Go to Programs and Features
Step 3: Click on Uninstall a Program
Step 4: Click on Installed Updates
Step 5: Uninstall KB3035583









Step 6: Restart your computer
Step 7: Go to Windows Updates in the Control Panel, right click on KB3035583 and hide the update. This step will prevent the update from being downloaded again.
 

Choose A Dual Band Router!

A dual band router operates at 2 frequencies 2.4ghz and 5ghz simultaneously, which produces less interference on your network.

Previous Issues

1. Multiple devices (cell phone, tablet, gaming systems) would lose wireless connection several times throughout the day
    - I tried to change the radio channel, which did not work
2. Devices could not find my wireless network
    - Even after restarting the router and the devices themselves
3. Wired LAN connections would disconnect
    -Some blog sites state that could be attributed to the OS


The issues I experienced happened several times a week. Troubleshooting the issues took about 15 minutes. I owned two different 2.4ghz models and experienced several issues that a dual band router solved.

Experienced Benefits

1. No wired or wireless connection interruption even after software updates
2. The frequencies operate on different networks, so I divided my devices between networks. That balance equaled less interference.
3. Guests are able to use the 2.4ghz network (this router also has a network specifically for guests)

I purchased the Belkin Wireless N+ Dual Band Router and I am totally satisfied with my purchase.

Noteworthy Observations

1. Although there are no external antennas included with the router I am able to obtain 90% signal strength from 200 ft away

Podcast Review of "The HIdden FM Radio Inside Your Pocket, And Why You Can’t Use It"

I watched NPR.org’s podcast called “The HIdden FM Radio Inside Your Pocket, And Why You Can’t Use It". Although the podcast was only 3:54 it was hard to actively listen to something that had no visual. The podcast explained that in the majority of mobile phones there are FM radio receivers installed, but  most mobile carriers have deactivated them. Personally, I think that carriers block waaaay too many features on mobile phones already and to not have access to a FM receiver is not surprising. If I had to narrow down a cause, I would conclude that carriers have not found a way to bill us for the service. The commentator stated that mobile carriers would be giving away data that could otherwise be billable. To counteract the loss of revenue, there would be some type of revenue system setup. In addition, the commentator argued that in an emergency situation the FM receiver  in a mobile phone would be a solid line of communications. I totally agree. I would love to have one less gadget to carry, especially something that is a viable means of communication.