Today, my project was getting Outlook 2010 configured to work with myGmail account. Here are the steps I took.

1. Login to Gmail.

2. Select Settings at the top the page.

3. Select the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab.

4. Select Enable IMAP.

5. Select any other options as desired and click Save Changes when you are done.

Now it’s time to launch Outlook 2010

1. Click the Office logo in the upper-left corner.

2. At the top where it says Account Information, click the dropdown menu.

3. Select Add Account…

4. Fill in the name as you would like it to appear in your email messages, your Gmail address, and the password to your Gmail account. Click Next when you’re done.

5. It will communicate with the Google Mail server.

6. You should be sucessfully connected and your Gmail will now work through Outlook 2010. Click Finish to start using it.

This tip was acquired from http://www.technipages.com/outlook-2010-connect-to-gmail.html

I hope this was beneficial to you.

To set up your Outlook 2007 client to work with Gmail:

1. Enable IMAP in Gmail. Don’t forget to click Save Changes when you’re done.
2. Open Outlook.
3. For new setups, select Do not upgrade.
4. Click Yes.
5. Enter your display name, email address (including ‘@gmail.com’), and password. Google Apps users, enter your full email address, e.g. ‘username@your_domain.com.’
6. Select the ‘Manually configure server settings or additional server types’ checkbox.



7. Select Internet E-mail.
8. Settings: name, full email address (including ‘@gmail.com’ or ‘@your_domain.com’)
   • In the Account Type dropdown menu, select IMAP. In the ‘Incoming server name’ section, enter: imap.gmail.com and in the ‘Outgoing server name (SMTP)’ section, enter: smtp.gmail.com.
   • In the ‘User Name’ field, give your full Gmail address, including ‘@gmail.com’ or ‘@your_domain.com.’
   • After creating these settings, clicking Next takes you to the end of the setup.

   
    

9. In the Tools menu, select Options then Mail Setup. Under ‘Email Accounts,’ click E-mail Accounts.
10. Select an account, and click Change above the list of accounts. Click More Settings, then the Advanced tab.
    • Incoming server must be 993, and must use SSL encryption.
    • Outgoing server can use 587, TLS encryption.

    

11. Click the Outgoing Server tab. Make sure that ‘My outgoing server (SMTP) requires authentication’ is selected. The radio button ‘Use same settings as my incoming mail server’ should also be selected.



12. Click OK > Next > Finish > Close > OK.
13. Check our recommended client settings, and adjust your client’s settings as needed.

This article is from http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=77689

I hope this tip was beneficial to you.

My column in today’s Northwest Herald talks about the recent uptick in hijacked email accounts. Hackers hijack your account in order to prey on your contacts by sending spam, malicious links, and outright requests for money in your name. And not just your email account… Facebook, LinkedIn, and other accounts can also be hijacked.

Here are some things you can do to protect yourself, not just from hijacked accounts but also from viruses, spyware and other Internet threats:

• Use strong passwords that are unique on every system, and change them every few months. Earlier this week I posted an article about how to create secure passwords. This is the number-one thing you can do to prevent your accounts from being hijacked.

• Use a high-quality security software suite. I used to recommend free solutions for Windows like AVG combined with Spybot or AdAware, but these days I’m finding the freebies aren’t enough to protect you. Norton and McAfee will do the job, but Norton in particular tends to take up a lot of memory which may make older machines run more slowly. I prefer AVG’s paid Internet Security Suite or Trend Micro’s Titanium Internet Security or Titanium Maximum Security. If you’re using free AVG, you can get a discount on the full AVG suite if you buy through the “upgrade from free version” option.

Whatever solution you choose, be sure it is a full suite—containing antivirus, anti-spyware, and firewall—and not just antivirus. And be sure it’s real software and not one of the many rogue security programs that are actually viruses in disguise.

Mac users, you need security software too. My personal favorite is Intego VirusBarrier or Internet Security Barrier. If you run Windows on your Mac through Apple’s Boot Camp or a program like VMWare or Parallels, try Intego’s Dual Protection options: VirusBarrier DP or Internet Security Barrier DP. These include BitDefender for Windows to protect the Windows half of your computer.

• Make sure ALL of the software on your computer is regularly updated. In one of my previous Northwest Herald columns, I talked about the dangers of old software. Here on my blog I’ve also talked specifically about the risks posed by old versions of Adobe (Acrobat) Reader and Flash.

• If you’re on Windows, use a browser other than Internet Explorer. Using Firefox or Opera instead of Internet Explorer offers you that much more protection. If you must use Internet Explorer, find out why older versions of Internet Explorer pose a greater risk of virus infection.

• Watch out for poisoned search engine results and learn how to spot bad web links.

• Never click on links or open attachments in email. Always visit the site directly. For example, if you get an email saying you have a new Facebook message, go directly to facebook.com from your Web browser instead of clicking the link in the email.

• Learn about social engineering and how hackers will do anything and everything to trick you into letting them in.

Acquired from:  http://www.guidryconsulting.com/techtips/2010/09/

Why would you want to waste your money paying for tune up software or visiting a computer shop if you can actually do the same thing yourself? Tuning up a PC isn’t an easy task. In fact, some software can do the tuning jobs for you but if you do it manually, you can have your computer better tuned up.

Like a home or a car, a computer need to be checked over, cleaned out, and tuned up at least once a year. It would be better if you do it once per month. Over time, computers get cluttered with unnecessary files that need cleaning out. If not properly and regularly maintained, the performance of all Microsoft Windows systems tend to degrade with the passage of time. This appears as the system taking more time to respond to a user’s actions like opening files, folders, surfing the Internet and other tasks. However, there are things you can do to speed up your computer. To be exact, you’ll have to remove everything that can cause crashes, slow speeds, freezing, and impact the overall health of your computer. Save your money and squeeze more speed out of your PC!

This article shows you 13 ultimate tips on how to give your slow PC a speed boost and also to keep your computer free of clutter.

1.   Regular Maintenance

As time passes while you use your PC, everything stored in your computer data may become scattered. Bad sectors can be found; some files or folders may be missing. There’re 3 steps you have to take in order to fix these problems.

1. Defragment your hard disk:  http://www.computertipsfree.com/defragment-your-hard-disk-now-for-better-performance/
2. Perform Scandisk(chkdisk) for your hard disk:  http://www.computertipsfree.com/scan-your-hard-disk-now-for-better-performance/
3. Run Disk Cleanup for your Windows:  http://www.computertipsfree.com/how-to-run-disk-cleanup-utility-for-windows-7-vista-and-xp/

2.   Disable Unnecessary Processes

When your PC starts, Windows loads lots of processes including some that you may not be aware of. Very often these are the processes required for Windows and security software such as anti-virus and firewall to function properly. Somtimes, however, processes of unnecessary programs can be running in the background, using up your computer resources and slow down your PC.

Hold the CTRL and ALT keys down and then press the DELETE key once. This brings up the Windows Task manger window which allows you to see at a glance all the programs currently running on your PC. The Applications tab will list programs such as Internet Explorer, Word and any folders you have open. Click to select a particular program and then click the End Task button to stop it.

To disable some programs from running themselve when you start your computer, check this tip: How To Disable Startup Programs In Windows XP and Vista (not much different for windows 7):  http://www.computertipsfree.com/how-to-disable-startup-programs-in-windows-xp-and-vista/

3.   Remove Malicious Programs: Spywares, Adwares, Viruses and Worms

A spyware or a virus can be the largest reason of why your computer became so slow recently. Slowing down your PC is not the only thing a virus can do to you. There’re more such as stealing your private data, crash your windows, destroy your files and folders. You must take immediate action to remove all these computer threats.

The best way to do this is to install an Anti-Virus Program, perform a scan for your PC, delete all found threats, enable system security control offered by your anti-virus program and switch on your firewall.

4.   Clean up your windows Registry

What is registry? In the Microsoft Windows operating systems beginning with Windows 95, the registry is a single place for keeping such information as what hardware is attached, what system options have been selected, how computer memory is set up, and what application programs are to be present when the operating system is started. The registry keep growing when you use Windows. As it does so, it attracts obsolete and unnecessary information, and gradually becomes cluttered and fragmented. With the growing of the registry, it can degrade the performance of the whole system and cause many weird software problems.

Tips: Download Registry Easy to fix your PC errors and speed up your computer:  http://www.computertipsfree.com/recommended/registryeasy

CCleaner is another good tool to clean your computer and registry, and it is free:  http://download.cnet.com/ccleaner/?tag=mncol;1

5.   Physically clean up your PC

Yes, I know this sounds crazy but you just have to do this. As time passes, the inner part of your computer may clogged with dust. Dust can cause heat problem and eventually slow down your PC or in some serious case your hardware can be damaged. We recommend you to physically clean up your computer at least twice a year for best performance.

• 10 Simple Tips on How to Clean The Inside of a Computer:  http://www.computertipsfree.com/9-simple-tips-on-how-to-clean-the-inside-of-a-computer-pc-dust/
  
  
  
  
• How to Clean Laptop Fan:  http://www.computertipsfree.com/how-to-clean-laptop-fan/
  
  
  
  
• PC Cleaning Tips – Computer Cleaning Tools:  http://www.computertipsfree.com/pc-cleaning-tips-computer-cleaning-tools/

6.   Setting up Virtual Memory

RAM is a place where an operating system, applications or programs in current use are stored so that they can be quickly reached by the PC’s processor. RAM is much more faster to be read or write compare to other storage devices such as a hard drive. Virtual memory is the memory created by using the hard disk to emulate RAM (random-access memory). It allows a computer to operate as if it had more memory than it actually does, but of course it’s not as fast as RAM.

To learn how to increase your PC Virtual Memory, read: Windows Virtual Memory Minimum Too Low? Learn How to Increase Virtual Memory:  http://www.computertipsfree.com/windows-virtual-memory-minimum-too-low-learn-how-to-increase-virtual-memory/

7.   Remove Unwanted Programs

Some programs will run without your knowledge even if you don’t open the programs. These programs will therefore eat up your computer resources and slow down your PC. I’m sure there is a lot of software in your PC which is unnecessary, and has usually been installed and then forgotten about over time. It is good practice to clean your PC of unwanted programs regularly. This can be done easily.

• Windows XP: Go to Start, Control Panel, double click on Add or Remove Programs.
• Windows 7 or Vista: Go to Start, Control Panel, click on Uninstall a program.
• Scroll through the programs and look for those that you don’t use anymore. Click to select them and then click the Remove or Uninstall button to uninstall them.

8.   Reduce the amount of disk space used

Reducing disk space used can let your PC retrieve and write data faster. This is somehow related to the uninstalling programs tip above. You can uninstall programs to free up some disk space. But some files or folders wouldn’t appear in the uninstall programs list such as photos, videos and notes. You’ll have to delete them manually. This might take you some time but it worth the result.

Hold the CTRL and ALT keys down and then press the DELETE key once. (Click on Start Task Manager if you’re using Vista or 7). Under Performance tab, if your CPU usage is at constant 100%, you’re facing one of the common problems caused by using excessive disk space. CPU running at constant 100% means that there’s no more free CPU resource you can use for other tasks. Your computer will therefore perform very slowly.

9.   Reduce icons and shortcuts on your desktop

More icons means more time to load. If you do always play around with alt-tab or alt-esc, switching programs or going back to desktop, it might takes you lots of time to load if you have tons of icons on your desktop. It’s good practice to keep your desktop as clean as possible. Believe me, this trick does work.

10.   Speed up your PC with Windows ReadyBoost

A trick that you would not like to miss. You can actually use your pendrive to give your PC an extra cache of memory to help increase speed by using the Windows ReadyBoost feature.

Read: How to Speed Up Your PC With Your Pendrive:  http://www.computertipsfree.com/speed-up-your-pc-with-your-pendrive/

11.   Keep all Drivers up to date

Up to date drivers means your hardware runs at peak performance. Up to date drivers means more bugs have been fixed, and your system will have fewer crashes. Up to date drivers mean new features and configuration options are unlocked in your devices, particularly with video cards. To update your drivers, you’ll have to refer to the official website of each of your hardware and look for the related drivers.

Usually, we’ll keep our eye on the drivers for:

1. Graphic cards
2. Motherboard (chipset)
3. Sound Card
4. Network card
5. Keyboard and Mouse
6. Monitor

If you find updating drivers a frustrating and difficult process, you should give a try on Driver Robot. Driver Robot (http://www.computertipsfree.com/recommends/driverrobot)  is a well known utility that offers to scan your PC for incorrect and out-of-date drivers, and automatically download the latest drivers for your computer. Driver Robot has the industry’s best hardware detection. It correctly identifies 100% of all consumer hardware devices. If it’s in your computer, Driver Robot can see it. With its perfect hardware scan, Driver Robot ensures you always get the right driver.

Read more: http://www.computertipsfree.com/how-to-update-drivers-in-windows-7-and-windows-vista/#ixzz14yKGwpJy

Publisher Description: Would you like to automatically update your drivers? Driver Robot (http://www.computertipsfree.com/recommends/driverrobot) has the world’s largest driver database. Its fast scan is guaranteed to identify the right driver for your system. Download it now and get the latest official drivers for your PC.

12.   Overclocking

Strongly not recommended. Overclocking is the process of running a computer component at a higher clock rate (more clock cycles per second) than it was designed for or was specified by the manufacturer, usually practiced by enthusiasts seeking an increase in the performance of their computers. Some purchase low-end computer components which they then overclock to higher clock rates, or overclock high-end components to attain levels of performance beyond the specified values. Others overclock outdated components to keep pace with new system requirements, rather than purchasing new hardware.

In short, overclock freaks tweak the clock rate of their hardware. Overclocking requires more electric power to run the particular hardware and causing its temperature to increase (depends on how much clock rate has been tweaked). The temperature is the key point. For example, to overclock a 2.5ghz processor to 3.0ghz, it might need to burn it up to 90 degree celcius or more which is not normal and definitely need to be cooled down. In this case, overclock freaks will install all the superb cooling devices to cool down their overclocked hardware.

If you’re still interested in burning up your hardware, google “overclock” and learn more about it.

13.   Buying better hardware parts

Of course, if you can afford to buy new parts for your computer, it’s the best way to boost up your PC speed. But make sure you don’t waste your money on unnecessary hardware parts. You don’t have to buy the latest superb graphic card if you’re not a gamer. Only buy extra RAM if you’re to run many programs at a time. Only buy extra hard disk if you have tons of files needed to be stored. Gamers, programmers or designers should have a better processor and graphic card.

Source:  http://www.computertipsfree.com/13-ultimate-tips-on-how-to-speed-up-computer-for-free/

 I hope this tip has been beneficial to you.

If you have ever ran into this problem with your wireless network, then you can follow the instructions below.

I usually run into this issue when I try to add another computer to my network.

1. First, click on the wireless icon in your taskbar and under Related Tasks, choose Change advanced settings.

2.  Now click on the Wireless Networks tab and select the network in the list at the bottom.  Click on Properties once you select the wireless network that is having problems.

3.  Click on the Authentication tab and now uncheck the Enable IEEE 802.1x authentication for this network box.  If the box was checked, then that was why you were getting the "unable to find a certificate to log you onto the network" message because Windows is looking for one, but your wireless router is not setup for certificate security.

The instructions above may have to slightly modified for your configuration, but it should be pretty close.

I hope this tip has been beneficial to you.