PureVpn Review

PureVPN allows you to securely browse the web with anonymity. PureVPN has several benefits, like dedicated streaming, secure hotspot transmission, IP address masking and Wi-Fi security. You also have the ability to logon to servers in several countries. You are able to logon to a total of 5 simultaneous devices. In addition, you can switch to a new server on any device at any time.

Currently (2016), 1 month of service is $9.95, there is also an option to select service for 1 year or 6 months. In keeping with anonymity, the service allows you to pay with BitPay or gift cards from major retailers. However, there is an additional charge added to gift cards payments, to which I could not find the specifics. There was no way to obtain the total amount until after entering the gift card information. After you enter your gift card information, then you will magically receive a final total on the checkout page. Next, submit your payment. Since Pure VPN is a Hong Kong based company, if you pay with a credit card or via Pay Pal, your purchase will be subject to a foreign transaction fee. I did not try any other methods of payment.

Although device support is limited, you can also configure PureVpn on your router. However all routers are not supported, so check the site support for more info. I read reviews of users in China not being able to fully obtain anonymity, because access to certain websites were still inaccessible. I experienced no such issues. When I verified my IP address on a handful of sites it remained hidden.

Install and setup time was around 5 minutes. The service was very easy to use and exactly what it claimed: secure, reliable with a reasonable connection speed. I used the service to optimize my bandwidth for media streaming. They offer the option to choose an optimal server, in order to best meet your needs. I did not notice a significant lack of speed between servers and video transmission was great. I also liked the fact that your ISP cant throttle your download speed based on caps because of anonymity. So check it out at purevpn.com.

Boot to CD Fix on HP x64bit - UEFI PC

My Windows 10 PC would not go into restore or repair mode. So I decided to reinstall the OS. I had a repair disc for Windows 10 and a Windows 10 system image. Neither of them worked. Every time I attempted an install, repair or restore, the computer would restart normally.

I searched the Internet and the findings were roundabout, because instructions differed depending on the model of computer. I determined that how your primary disc is partitioned, governs whether you boot into BIOS or UEFI. The Microsoft article, “Boot to UEFI or Legacy Mode”¹ explained that if your hard drive is GPT you should boot using UEFI. In contrast, if your hard drive is partitioned to use MBR you should use BIOS. Choosing the wrong option could cause installation or boot failures.  I also found some posts of users that experienced issues with Secure Boot and installation. Secure boot protects your computer from manipulation by allowing only trusted software to load at startup.

So I began to troubleshoot the Secure Boot scenario. First, I disabled Secure Boot and enabled Legacy Support, however my installation failed. Next, I disabled Secure Boot, enabled Legacy Support then booted into UEFI. However my installation failed. Finally, I enabled Secure Boot, disabled Legacy Support, restarted and booted directly into UEFI using the F9 button. I knew I was successful when I got press any key to boot screen.

So if you are experiencing issues booting to a CD, first determine if you are booting to UEFI or BIOS.  The “Boot to UEFI Mode or Legacy Bios Mode”² article has the best set of instructions I found to change the boot mode. Since the function key varies depending on your model, you’ll either have to guess or consult your manufacturer’s website for more information.

  

1https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh825112.aspx

2 https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh825112.aspx

Keyboard With AES Encryption

I was looking to purchase a new keyboard and realized some were sold with AES encryption and some were not. I never really thought about encrypting data from my keyboard until I needed a new one. HTTPS allows secure transmission over the network, but what about secure transmission on your computer? Keylogger programs and wireless transmission sniffing are definitely security concerns. Encryption allows the information you type, like passwords, credit card numbers to be securely transmitted to your computer. AES is an advanced encryption standard. There are no major differences in style, price or aesthetics versus non-encrypted keyboards. Microsoft has been selling keyboards with AES encryption since 2011. Other manufacturers do offer AES but the vast majority are sold without advanced encryption. So if you are in the market for a wireless keyboard make sure it has advanced encryption.

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