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Smarthome

What is a smart home? How do you create a Wi-Fi network? How do you pick a good Wi-Fi router? How do you use and install smart products into your home?

Reviewing the ASUS RP-N14 Range Extender for Wireless Networks

Reviewing the ASUS RP-N14 Range Extender for Wireless Networks

Ciprian Adrian Rusen
28.03.2014

I live in a reasonably large apartment and I have a few rooms where the signal of my wireless network is not that great. That's why I was very curious to test a wireless range extender and see whether it can deliver a much-required boost in those problematic rooms. We have received the RP-N14 range extender from ASUS - an affordable device for people

How to Connect Windows 8.1 Devices to Wireless Networks via WPS

How to Connect Windows 8.1 Devices to Wireless Networks via WPS

Ciprian Adrian Rusen
27.03.2014

If you have a Windows 8.1 laptop, tablet or hybrid that you can connect to wireless networks, you may need or want to use the WPS standard to make quicker connections to some networks. If that is the case for you, here's how to connect any Windows 8.1 device to a wireless network by using the WPS feature on any router. NOTE: If

Connect Windows 8.1 Devices With Mini DisplayPorts to HDMI Displays

Connect Windows 8.1 Devices With Mini DisplayPorts to HDMI Displays

Ciprian Adrian Rusen
10.03.2014

Surface and Surface Pro tablets from Microsoft do not have an HDMI port and it isn't very obvious how to connect them to an external monitor. The same is true about many other Windows 8.1 devices, including laptops and tablets created by HP, Dell or Lenovo. All these modern devices do have a Mini DisplayPort that you can use for connecting them to all

Change the Location of a Network from Private to Public in Windows 8.1

Change the Location of a Network from Private to Public in Windows 8.1

Ciprian Adrian Rusen
14.11.2013

When connecting to a new network in Windows 8.1, you are asked whether you want to find PCs, devices and content on the network. If you answer Yes, the location of the network is set as Private and if you answer No, the location is set as Public. But what if you have made a mistake and you want to change the location from

Set Windows 8.1 Apps that May Use the Webcam, Microphone & other devices

Set Windows 8.1 Apps that May Use the Webcam, Microphone & other devices

Ciprian Adrian Rusen
15.10.2013

Another useful new feature in Windows 8.1 is that you can set in detail which apps can use devices like the webcam, microphone and others. This tutorial shows how this configuration is performed. As you will see, it is very quick and painless. :) NOTE: The settings detailed detailed in this tutorial apply only to apps from the Windows Store. Desktop applications are

How to Remove Network Locations Mapped as Drives in Windows 8

How to Remove Network Locations Mapped as Drives in Windows 8

Robert Kingsley
23.04.2013

The process called mapping, assigns a drive letter on your computer to a location on a remote system allowing you to access and save files over the network easily. We have shown how to make these links permanent by reconnecting them every time you log on, which assures they'll never disappear on you. However, it also means you'll get annoying messages from your tray

How to Install Any Version of Windows from Other Network Computers

How to Install Any Version of Windows from Other Network Computers

Ciprian Adrian Rusen
14.03.2013

Talk about a complex thing to do: installing Windows over the network. Even installing it via a USB drive is simpler. However, this doesn't mean it cannot be done. Using a free tool named Serva and a bit of time and attention, anyone can set up his/her network environment so that Windows installations are performed with ease, from one network computer. Here's how the

Reviewing the Belkin AC 1000 DB Wi-Fi Dual-Band AC+ Gigabit Router

Reviewing the Belkin AC 1000 DB Wi-Fi Dual-Band AC+ Gigabit Router

Ciprian Adrian Rusen
11.01.2013

Have you noticed that many AC routers have been launched on the market in the last few months? What does AC stand for? It turns out it is the latest wireless networking standard. It is supposed to be the successor of the 802.11n standard and provide theoretical transfer speeds up to 500 Mbit/s. That's quite fast for wireless but are these AC routers any

Introducing Windows 8: How to Add or Remove Devices from PC Settings

Introducing Windows 8: How to Add or Remove Devices from PC Settings

Ciprian Adrian Rusen
03.01.2013

Did you know that Windows 8 also offers a new way to add and remove devices connected to your computer? On top of the tools that exist in Windows 7 and earlier versions of Windows, now there is also a Devices section in PC Settings that makes it real easy to add and remove devices. In this tutorial you will learn how it works.

How to Use File History with Network Drives & Locations to Backup Data

How to Use File History with Network Drives & Locations to Backup Data

Ciprian Adrian Rusen
20.12.2012

File History can work both with local drives plugged into your computer and drives connected to other computers on the network or to the network itself. How does this work and what is the best way to set things up? Learn this and more from this article. Connect an External Drive to a Computer & Recommend it to the Homegroup One way to

Reviewing the ASUS RT-N56U - Is it Really the Fastest Wireless Router?

Reviewing the ASUS RT-N56U - Is it Really the Fastest Wireless Router?

Ciprian Adrian Rusen
12.12.2012

Lately, I have been searching for a really good wireless N router, able to provide both good speed and coverage, while battling successfully with all the other wireless networks available in my area. I did a bit of research and I have learned that many people were talking about ASUS RT-N56U and how fast it is. While hype is a good thing to have

Reviewing the Belkin @TV - Mobile TV for Geeks

Reviewing the Belkin @TV - Mobile TV for Geeks

Ciprian Adrian Rusen
30.10.2012

Recently, I got my hands on the Belkin @TV. From the moment I touched it, I was very intrigued: Mobile television? Remote streaming? Interesting concepts I have not fiddled with until now. Imagine my curiosity while unpacking the device and setting it up for the first time. I was very eager to learn how this concept works, if it is useful, to whom, etc.

The Geek's Way of Managing Printers - The Print Management Console

The Geek's Way of Managing Printers - The Print Management Console

Ciprian Adrian Rusen
21.09.2012

Have you heard about the Print Management console in Windows 7 and Windows 8? I did but I ignored it blissfully for years. Until recently when, by chance, it stirred up my attention. I began to use it and I loved it. Therefore I decided to share what I have learned with our readers and show a better way to manage your installed printers

How to Manage Wireless Network Connections & Profiles in Windows 8

How to Manage Wireless Network Connections & Profiles in Windows 8

Robert Kingsley
12.09.2012

When you connect to a wireless network, the network's security information, settings and password are automatically stored on your computer in the form of a network profile. This profile allows Windows to connect automatically the next time this network is in range. In previous versions of Windows you could open a list of available profiles for management purposes. From this list you could easily

How to Sync Offline Files & Network Folders on a Set Schedule

How to Sync Offline Files & Network Folders on a Set Schedule

Ciprian Adrian Rusen
13.07.2012

Did you know that you can set the Offline Files feature in Windows 7 to synchronize network folders on a schedule set by you? I didn't know either, until very recently. Therefore, in this tutorial I will share how to schedule your sync partnerships and have network folders synced when you want to. Viewing Sync Partnerships First, you need to access the network

The Layman's Guide to Solving Wireless Network Interference Problems

The Layman's Guide to Solving Wireless Network Interference Problems

Ciprian Adrian Rusen
10.07.2012

One of the most common root causes for having slow and unstable wireless network connections is interference. Many things interfere with a wireless network: everything from walls to the microwaves you use in the kitchen to other wireless networks. That's why I decided to learn more on the subject, experiment with my own wireless network and share what I have learned. In this article,

Use Network Files While Offline with Sync Center & Offline Files

Use Network Files While Offline with Sync Center & Offline Files

Ciprian Adrian Rusen
28.06.2012

Even though Sync Center and Offline Files are features present in older versions of Windows, few people know about them, let alone use them. That's why I decided to cover these tools in a mini-series of articles. In this first episode you will learn what Sync Center and Offline Files are, how to access them and the basics about working with them. What's

Reviewing the Belkin N600 DB Wireless Dual-Band N+ Router

Reviewing the Belkin N600 DB Wireless Dual-Band N+ Router

Ciprian Adrian Rusen
16.05.2012

Personally, I am a fan of Belkin routers and I have owned a few good models in the past. By chance, I managed to get my hands on a Belkin N600 DB Wireless Dual-Band N+ router which, at least in theory, packs some interesting technologies and features. I was really curious to learn if it is a good router and if it is worthy

Troubleshoot Wireless Network Connection Problems by Yourself

Troubleshoot Wireless Network Connection Problems by Yourself

Ciprian Adrian Rusen
26.08.2011

Lots of people have issues with wireless network connections and they don't know how to fix them. If you have access to an Internet connection, at least you can Google things and find some help. But what do you do when the wireless connection you have trouble connecting to is the only that can give you Internet access. Well... you can read & learn

The Network Map - Access Your Network Computers in a Fun Way

The Network Map - Access Your Network Computers in a Fun Way

Ciprian Adrian Rusen
12.02.2010

One of the less known features of Windows 7 is the network map. This feature does what its name implies: it shows you a complete map of all the computers connected to your network at a specific point in time. It was first introduced in Windows Vista and it was kept pretty much unchanged in Windows 7. In this guide I will show you