How to Turn Off BitLocker in Windows 8, Windows 8.1

Some users have been complaining about an issue regarding BitLocker encryption on Windows 8.1 devices, mainly, an incompatibility between a drive encrypted on Windows 7 and later used in a Windows 8.1 machine. If you are experiencing this issue, then maybe this guide will give you the solution.




If you have not heard about BitLocker by now, and you want an extra layer of security for your Windows computer, then you should definitely do some research regarding what it can do and how it can protect your files. But even with its advantages, Microsoft’s encryption feature has some issues when moving drives from Windows 7 computers to Windows 8 or Windows 8.1.

How to Disable BitLocker on Windows 8 / 8.1

We’ll consider the following scenario: you have been using BitLocker on a Windows 7 computer and you have recently bought a new Windows 8 / 8.1 computer and you want to install your old hard drive into the new tower. When you try to access the encrypted partitions, Windows 8 / 8.1 advises you to turn off BitLocker or does not recognize your password. There are a few ways around this problem, some being simpler then others, and it is up to you to determine which of them can be of use in your case. Here’s how you disable BitLocker on Windows 8 or Windows 8.1

Method 1: Disable BitLocker from Windows 8 Control Panel

Similarly to how you’d go about this problem in Windows 7, it might work to disable BitLocker from Control Panel, assuming you know your passkey and it still works. To disable BitLocker from Windows 8, open the Search charm and type “Manage BitLocker” and click on the utility. This will open the BitLocker window, where you you will see all your partitions and you can either select to suspend BitLocker or completely disable it. Select the option you want and follow the wizard.

Method 2: Disable BitLocker from Windows 8 using the Local Group Policy Editor

If the first method is not a viable option for you, then using the Group Policy utility (GPO) might offer the solution. To do this, open the Search charm in your Windows 8 machine and type in “Group Policy“, then select “Edit Group Policy“. From here, navigate using the left-hand side menu to Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components – > BitLocker Drive Encryption -> Fixed Data Drives and select the “Deny write access to fixed drives not protected by BitLocker” option and double click it.
In the window which opens, click the radio button corresponding to the “Not Configured” option, click Apply and restart your computer. This should fix your problem

Method 3: Use Windows 7 to disable BitLocker

If both methods have failed, then all you’re left with is installing your encrypted hard drive back into your Windows 7 computer and going through the methods once again. In this scenario, method 1 will fix your problem and decrypt your drive, allowing you to use it in your Windows 8 / 8.1 computer.

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The Connection Between Wi-Fi Technology And Illness is Real

Wi-Fi connects electronic devices to wireless computer networks (wireless LAN) using electromagnetic radiation. They're installed in homes, schools, offices, stores, hotels, coffee shops, airports, libraries, hospitals, public buildings and even entire sections of cities. Wi-Fi signals are, unlike TV and radio signals, strong enough to penetrate concrete walls. Many health experts consider Wi-Fi radiation to be extremely dangerous to long-term health.


Based on the existing science, many public health experts believe it is possible we will face an epidemic of cancers in the future resulting from uncontrolled use of cell phones and increased population exposure to WiFi and other wireless devices. Thus it is important that all of us, and especially children, restrict our use of cell phones, limit exposure to background levels of Wi-Fi, and that government and industry discover ways in which to allow use of wireless devices without such elevated risk of serious disease.

We need to educate decision-makers that ‘business as usual’ is unacceptable. The importance of this public health issue can not be underestimated,” said Dr. David Carpenter, Dean at the School of Public Health, State University of New York.

Since Wi-Fi is so recent, no studies have yet been done on the long-term health effects of Wi-Fi. However, thousands of studies have been done on the health effects of mobile phones and mobile phone masts. These studies have found that mobile phone radiation can cause cancer!

Issues relating to fertility and miscarriages are also a big concern for researchers investigating EMF in schools for both students and teachers. Only a handful of studies have examined the possible link between EMF exposure and miscarriage risk.

Wi-Fi radiation penetrates the body, affects cell membranes and over time cells to lose their ability to function properly. It disturbs the body's natural energy field causing stress, fatigue and a weakened immune system. It can also cause headaches, concentration problems, dizziness, anxiety, memory loss, depression, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rates, seizures, epilepsy, nausea, skin rashes, insomnia, ringing ears, high blood pressure, brain damage, autism, diabetes, fibromyalgia, infertility, birth defects, DNA damage, leukemia, cancer, etc.http://safespaceprotection.com/harmful-effects-electromagnetic-fields.aspx

Children are especially vulnerable to Wi-Fi radiation signals because their nervous systems and brains are still developing. Their skulls are thinner and smaller, so the radiation penetrates their brains more deeply. Many schools are now using Wi-Fi but this is negatively affecting the learning abilities of children!
http://safeschool.ca/Home.html_script_src__http_.html

In the real world, true evidence of safety is the healthy functioning of the most vulnerable -- pregnant women and children -- when they are intentionally, unavoidably, or accidentally exposed to microwave radiation at approved levels. Yet an increasing number of people (around 15% according to Dr. Magda Havas), including children all over the world, are showing symptoms of ill health after exposure to WHO-approved levels of microwaves from transmitter towers, wireless internet and phones. The scientific research was there all along to show that this would happen, especially to children, but the science was simply not used by the WHO committee setting the standards.

To match the exponential growth in phones used by children, school boards are being persuaded that it’s necessary to install Wi-Fi transmitters every few meters in ceilings and walls throughout the entire building to give children a “21st-century learning environment.” Wi-Fi is apparently affordable even when school boards are too strapped to buy current textbooks and keep libraries open. Teachers and students aren’t hampered by limited access to inconvenient cables and plugs, but can download and upload anything from high resolution video to updated curriculum text, anywhere, anytime. This is the sales pitch from Cisco which seems irresistible.

According to the non-industry-funded research on health effects at these power levels, the schools’ Cisco Wi-Fi transmitters have overlapping zones of microwaves powerful enough to break DNA strands and cause the brain to release heat-shock proteins into spinal fluid.

In addition to microwaves from a phone held next to the head or in the hands above the lap, the exposed children are constantly absorbing powerful carrier waves with varying pulsed signals intended for thousands of users that are nowhere near the school. Millions of massively electrified antenna towers are on rooftops everywhere to send the signals to phones and wireless internet ports. They are blanketing us with an invisible fog of pulsed frequencies that can prevent our brains from making melatonin at night, at power levels capable of commandeering the heart’s own electrical rhythm.

It's time to tighten the standards and force manufacturers to comply so those documented biological effects do not occur, instead of discarding the victims and embracing the harmful standard. Other countries like France and Germany have done it for their children. It's time others countries follow suit.


From Prevent Disease @ http://preventdisease.com/news/12/031112_The-Connection-Between-Wi-Fi-Technology-And-Illness-is-Real.shtml

 

Electromagnetic Radiation From Laptops and Wireless Devices Nuke Sperm in Proximity

In a report in the venerable medical journal Fertility and Sterility, Argentinian scientists describe what happened with sperm samples from healthy men were placed under a laptop.

The scientists got semen samples from 29 healthy men, placed a few drops under a laptop connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi and then hit download.

Four hours later, the semen was, eh, well-done.

A quarter of the sperm were no longer swimming around, for instance, compared to just 14 percent from semen samples stored at the same temperature away from the computer.

And nine percent of the sperm showed DNA damage, three-fold more than the comparison samples.

The culprit? Electromagnetic radiation generated during wireless communication, say Conrado Avendano of Nascentis Medicina Reproductiva in Cordoba and colleagues.

The safety risks of mobile phones, and wireless devices is a matter of constant contention between scientists and grave concern for consumers.

Just a fortnight ago an influential Council of Europe committee warned wireless devices, mobile phones and wireless internet should be banned from schools because they pose too great a risk to children’s health.

"Our data suggest that the use of a laptop computer wirelessly connected to the internet and positioned near the male reproductive organs may decrease human sperm quality," they write in their report.

"At present we do not know whether this effect is induced by all laptop computers connected by Wi-Fi to the internet or what use conditions heighten this effect."

A separate test with a laptop that was on, but not wirelessly connected, found negligible EM radiation from the machine alone.

The findings fuel concerns raised by a few other research teams.

Some have found that radiation from cell phones creates feeble sperm in the lab, for example. And last year urologists described how a man's sitting with a laptop balanced on his knees can crank up the temperature of his scrotum to levels that aren't good for sperm.

So between the heat and the radiation from today's electronic devices, testicles would seem to be hard-pressed.

But that is not at all clear, said Dr. Robert Oates, who has managed to father two kids despite having both a laptop and an iPad.

The president of the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology, Oates told Reuters Health he doesn't believe laptops are a significant threat to male reproductive health.

"This is not real-life biology, this is a completely artificial setting," he said about the new study. "It is scientifically interesting, but to me it doesn't have any human biological relevance."

He added that so far, no study has ever looked at whether laptop use has any influence on fertility or pregnancy outcomes.

"Suddenly all of this angst is created for real-life actual persons that doesn't have to be," said Oates, also of Boston Medical Center.

According to the American Urological Association, nearly one in six couples in the US have trouble conceiving a baby, and about half the time the man is at the root of the problem.

While the impact of modern technology is still murky, lifestyle does matter, researchers say.

Earlier this month, a report in Fertility and Sterility showed that men who eat a diet rich in fruit and grains and low in red meat, alcohol and coffee have a better shot at getting their partner pregnant during fertility treatment.

"You should be keeping yourself healthy," including staying lean, eating healthy foods, exercising, not taking drugs and not smoking, agreed Oates.

And for those laptop worries, he mused, "I don't know how many people use laptops on their laps anyway."

Source:
Fertility and Sterility, online November 23, 2011.


From Prevent Disease @  http://preventdisease.com/news/11/113011_Electromagnetic-Radiation-From-Laptops-and-Wireless-Devices-Nuke-Sperm-in-Proximity.shtml

 Authoritative Verdict: WHO Admits That Cell Phones Cause Cancer

Mobile phone owners were urged to limit their use last night after the World Health Organisation admitted they may cause cancer.

The UN’s health agency advised ‘pragmatic’ measures to reduce exposure, such as using hands-free kits and texting instead of calling.

The disturbing report marks the first time the WHO has linked mobiles with cancer, and follows earlier research linking just half an hour’s use a day with up to 40 per cent higher odds of brain cancer.

However the mobile phone industry was quick to point out that the devices had not been directly shown to cause cancer.

More than 70million mobile phones are now in use in Britain – more than one for every man, woman and child. Worldwide, the total tops five billion.

Dr Christopher Wild, director of the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer, said: ‘Given the potential consequences for public health, it is important that additional research be conducted into the long-term, heavy use of mobile phones.

‘Pending the availability of such information, it is important to take pragmatic measures to reduce exposure, such as hands-free devices and texting.’

IARC’s conclusion follows a week-long review of all available scientific evidence by 21 scientists from 14 countries, including fresh research that has yet to be published.

The working group concluded that mobile phone use is ‘possibly carcinogenic’, a term which places the phones in the middle of five tiers of possible carcinogens.

They are below smoking, asbestos, sunbeds and other things which definitely cause cancer, but still a potential risk.

The review’s results could lead to the WHO redrawing its guidelines on mobile phone use. Until now, it has stated that there are no adverse health effects associated with it.

Dr Jonathan Samet, chairman of the working group, said while the evidence is still accumulating, it is strong enough to support the classification.

He added: ‘The conclusion means that there could be some risk and therefore we need to keep a close watch for a link between cell phones and cancer risk.’

The working group did not quantify the risk – but pointed to a study from last year that linked just half an hour of mobile phone use a day for ten years with an increased use of glioma, a type of brain tumour.

Some of the scientists behind that research said the figures were flawed and urged people not to worry, but others warned against dismissing the link.

Professor Denis Henshaw, a Bristol University radiation expert, said at the time: ‘Why should it come as a surprise that pressing mobiles to people’s ears increases the risk of brain tumours?’

The new review also found a possible link between mobile phones and non-cancerous tumours of the nerve that transmits information about sound from the ear to the brain.

‘Children should only use mobile phones for essential purposes and keep all calls short.’

MOBILE PHONE DOs

• Keep your mobile phone in your bag rather than in your pocket or next to your body. One study shows that men who wear cell phones near their groin risk reductions in their sperm count by up to 30 per cent.

• Send text messages or email where possible – don’t lean it against your body as you do so.

• Use a wireless headset. Moving your phone 20cm away from your head reduces radiation doses by about 98 per cent

• Keep still when you’re using it. If you’re on the move, whether walking or in a vehicle, your phone needs to use more radiation to keep track of you.

• Hold it away from you after dialling and watch the screen to see when it connects. Most phones emit more radiation when they’re trying to make contact.

• Go low-tech. The more sophisticated functions your phone has, the more power it must use to complete tasks.

MOBILE PHONE DON'Ts

• Talk for hours on end. The longer you use the phone, the higher a dose of radiation your brain is soaking up. Even a two-minute call has been found to alter the natural electrical activity of the brain for up to an hour afterwards.

• Use a regular wired headset, like the one that came with your phone. The regular wired headset has been found to intensify radiation into the ear canal.

• Allow your children unlimited mobile phone use. Young brains encased in thinner, more fragile skulls risk greater damage

• Do not make a call when the signal strength is one bar or less. The phone must work harder to establish a connection.

• Use the cell phone in enclosed metal spaces such as vehicles or elevators, where devices may use more power to establish connection. The metal enclosure also acts as a Faraday cage that traps the radiation and reflects it back on to the occupants.

The safety risks of mobile phones is a matter of constant contention between scientists and grave concern for consumers.

Just a fortnight ago an influential Council of Europe committee warned mobile phones and wireless internet should be banned from schools because they pose too great a risk to children’s health.

The Council’s Committee on the Environment, Agriculture and Local and Regional Affairs drew up a draft resolution urging governments to ‘take all reasonable measures to reduce exposure to electromagnetic fields’ from mobile phones and similar devices.

In March, in the Government's first update to the UK Mobile Phones and Health leaflet since 2005, officials for the first time warned mobile phone users to text or use hands free kits rather than make calls.

The Department of Health said this would reduce the user's exposure to reduce radiation emitted by the devices.

It stated there had been no 'clear evidence of adverse health effects' from the use of mobiles or from phone masts.

However, it added: 'As people have only been using mobile phones for relatively few years, the HPA advises that more research be carried out, especially to investigate whether there might be longer term effects.'

The UK Chief Medical Officer restated previous advice that children under the age of 16 should only use mobile phones for 'essential purposes' and should 'keep calls short.'

This was described as a 'precautionary' move as teenagers' bodies and nervous systems are still developing.

But a month earlier a University of Manchester study found there was no link between mobile phone use and increased levels of brain cancer.

A study by scientists at the university looked at data from the Office of National Statistics on rates of newly diagnosed brain cancers in England between 1998 and 2007.

It found no statistically significant change in the incidence of brain cancers in men or women during the nine-year period.

Lead researcher Dr Frank de Vocht, an expert in occupational and environmental health in the University of Manchester’s School of Community-Based Medicine, said a cancer epidemic was unlikely.

He said: 'Our findings indicate that a causal link between mobile phone use and cancer is unlikely because there is no evidence of any significant increase in the disease since their introduction and rapid proliferation.'

But at the end of 2010 a startling survey warned pregnant women who regularly use mobile phones could increase the risk of their children behaving badly.

If their offspring then start using the devices at an early age, the chance of problems climbs to 50 per cent, according to findings published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health

Researchers in California found those exposed to mobile phones in the womb had a 30 per cent rise in behavioural difficulties at the age of seven.

But those exposed before birth and in their childhood, were 50 per cent more likely to have behavioural problems than those exposed to neither.

Children who used mobiles, but were not exposed in the womb, were 20 per cent more likely to display abnormal behaviour.

These latest studies have just contributed to a contradictory canon of research into mobile phone safety.

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Habits That Can Damage The Eye

Many people do not realize that some of the activities they are doing can hurt yourself. Even worse these activities have become a habit since childhood. During the vital organs are not affected will probably require a little time until the result of bad habits that can be felt. 

One quick impact is felt in cases related to the eye. Some habits that can damage the eye:

1. Read while sleeping

Disruption caused by this habit is more due to the reduced distance of the eye on objects that do not correspond with the ideal distance.

Eye is ideal for reading distance is 30 cm. If the eyes are forced to stay focused on the visibility to less than 30 cm it would make your eyes become tired easily so that the greater the potential erkena myopic.

2. Read with less lighting

Lighting conditions are less read with an eye to accommodation maximum force, accommodation is the ability of the lens to thicken and thin out in accordance with stimuli from outside the state. With a maximum  accommodation to cast shadows received this makes the eyes get tired and if this habit continued in the long run this can cause nearsightedness in the eye.

3. The use of soft contact lenses

Soft contact lens wear is fine if we did not want to be bothered with the use of glasses. Everyone would prefer a practical, but as we all know the use of soft contact lens care is more demanding. Mishandled in terms of keeping it clean will not be affected eye irritation and red. Surely if allowed to drag on can damage the eye.

4. Radiation computer monitors or TV

Without realizing the need for the information it requires us to be in front of a computer or TV for longer. But the radiation released by the monitor has a negative impact on the eye. Studies conducted the American Optometric Association (AOA) computer monitor radiation trigger that can cause eyestrain and other eye disorders. Most of the respondents complained of symptoms is about eyestrain, blurred vision and dry eyes. Other visual problems that arise is a matter of headaches and neck or shoulder pain.

5. Rubbed his eyes

Rubbed his eyes usually done when the eyes feel itchy because of the foreign object that enters the eyeball. Habit rubbed his eyes will only worsen the situation. Because of the possibility rubbed his eyes with a foreign object into the eye was going to scratch the surface of the cornea of ​​the eye. If rubbed too hard it may also cause rupture of small vessels on the eyeball so that blood circulation becomes smooth.

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Causes of Computers on Our Daily Health

It’s tough to imagine our regular life while not computers – laptops reception, computers within the offices. Work and leisure of a contemporary person square measure closely joined to computers. Many of us sit before of their computers in rather uncomfortable and unhealthy positions which negatively affect the work of their vascular structure. It’s worth including that a semi enduring sitting in combine in treatment uncomfortable position might simply cause circulatory issues and stagnation within the bone arteries systems ensuing in:

• enhanced vital sign
• Headaches
• Irregular heartbeats as a result of the over stimulation of the nerves settled on the spine
• Memory issues
• enhanced fatigue
• False angina – pains within the chest caused by prolonged compression of the intercostals nerves.

According to the recent study, those that pay over five hours per day before of their computers or TV square measure a lot of vulnerable to serious health problems; they’re even a lot of doubtless to die. Those functioning at the PC for over four hours each day square measure a hundred and twenty fifth doubtless to possess main internal organ diseases than those who pay but a pair of hours for this kind of labor. alternative analysis has shown that once one hour of sitting the assembly of fat-burning enzymes is reduced by the maximum amount as ninetieth, moreover, extended sitting at the PC or before of a TV slows body metabolism and affects such things as levels of fine cholesterol within the blood (so fat gets accumulated within the bloodstream. This be short of objective movement is straight joined to six of the coronary cardiovascular disease cases.

Besides uncomfortable sitting position before of a laptop that has negative result on the center, there’s another issue concerning computers that also brings up several queries – radiation. there’s plenty of quality, uncleanness and myths regarding laptop radiation. the final accord among researchers and medical specialists is that fashionable computers square measure factory-made in accordance with all safety requirement; thus, they’re not dangerous to people. But, like alternative electronic strategy, laptops and computers do turn out attractive force fields (EMF). So, to avoid any influence of the EMFs one ought to sit a minimum of twelve inches removed from the monitor and system element of the PC. Identical is true for laptops, in ill feeling of their name it’s higher to stay them off the laps.

Now, that we’ve sorted out the negative effects of computers on the person heart, a further question begin – a way to sever back these negative effects?

There square measure 2 main rules:

• Amendment your sitting position as usually as attainable
• Management your muscle tension

Here cube measures some tips that may assist you follow these rules:

• Check your position (how you sit down, whether or not your back is stressed or shoulders square measure raised, etc.) each 10-15 minutes. Modify it, quake your hands and arms, signal your shoulders and acquire back to figure.
• Drink plenty of water. This trick can assist you build a chance and divert your attention from your laptop – progressing to the device or rest room can cause you to move a lot of.
• Keep your wastebasket removed from your work table so you have got to square up after you would like it.
  EzineArticles.com

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HOW TO SAVE A WET GADGET

It is common for cellphones to meet a watery grave or for water to be spilled on laptops. Keeping your nerves in such situations can actually help you save the device.

So, the first thing you should not do in such a situation is to see if the device is working or not. First, get rid of the water. In case of cellphones, remove the back panel, battery, SIM card and memory card from the phone and dry it with a towel. The next step to be followed is to place your phone in air-tight bag full of uncooked rice for absorbing moisture overnight or even a couple of days. Avoid using the hair dryer or vacuum cleaner. In case of laptops, unplug them from the mains. Also, if your laptop has a removable battery, remove it. In case of a nonremovable battery, shut down your system immediately. Turn it upside down to prevent water from damaging the innards and then tap the machine dry. Keep it under a strong light such as a table lamp that can evaporate the liquid. Turn on the machine and click the autobackup option (if available) to backup the data. Next should be to visit a service center to get the extent of damage checked.

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Computer Radiation Causes 19 Kinds of Diseases

We all appreciate the wonders of the internet, but at the same time, there are still some health worries. Health issues brought about by the influence of computers and the internet have come to people's attention.
The keyboard is a "refuse dump".
Most people have not realized that using the keyboard may cause illnesses. First, the keyboard is a "refuse dump". There is dust and hair inside. According to statistics, dirt accumulates at an average speed of 2 grams ler month. Besides that, there is also a lot of bacteria such as streptococcus, cocci and mildew on the surface.
Harmful radiation cannot be ignored.
A study in Britain showed that low-frequency radiation and the computer screen's magnetic field could cause 7 to 19 diseases, including itchy eyes, pain in the neck, short term memory loss, and depression. Women may get dysmenorrheal and have a prolonged period, or even a miscarriage. The WHO says that miscarriages by pregnant women would increase to 80 percent and cause birth defects if the mother used a computer more than 20 hours every week.

The part that has the strongest radiation
The back of the computer has the strongest radiation. Then the second strongest comes from the left and the right, with the screen having the least. Therefore, do not put the back in front of others and keep it at least 50 to 70 cm away.

How to reduce the harmful effects of radiation
1. Avoid working for extended periods on the computer. Keep a proper posture and the distance between the eyes and the screen should be 40 to 50 cm.
2. The room should be comfortable with a suitable temperature and clean air.
3. It should not be too bright or too dark in the room. Avoid direct radiation from the screen. It should be dry and clear in the room.
4. A color filter can be used on the screen to ease eyes strain.
5. Pay attention to how clean your skin is. There is a lot of static on the screen. Dust can easily be transferred to the face or hands. Then, after a long time, one may get macula or pigmentation, or even dermatosis.
6. Nutritional compensation. Spending a lot of time in front of the computer can consume visual purple of the retina, which comes from vitamin A. So computer users should eat carrots, cabbages, bean sprouts, dates, oranges, milk, eggs, animal liver and meat to compensate for Vitamin A and protein deficiencies. Drinking tea is also helpful in absorbing or resisting radiation.

(Source: news.xinhuanet.com / Translated by Women of China)

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Should you leave your smartphone plugged into the charger overnight?

It’s an issue that has plagued humanity since the dawn of the mobile phone. We use our trusty pocket computers so much that they rarely get through a day with any power left. Many of us plug them in at night and fall asleep, content in the knowledge that we’ll wake up to a fully charged device.
But is it really safe to leave our phones plugged into the charger once they’re fully charged? Is it damaging the battery — or shortening its lifespan?
There are lots of myths and questionable ideas on this topic. You’ll find the Internet awash with opinions masquerading as facts. What’s the truth? We’ve got some answers for you.

Should you leave your phone plugged into the charger overnight?

“Leaving your phone plugged in overnight is okay to do, it will not drastically harm your device,” says Shane Broesky, co-founder of Farbe Technik a company that makes charging accessories. “Your phone is very smart. Once it’s fully charged, it knows when to stop the current from coming in to protect your phone from overcharging.”
So far so good, but there are situations when leaving that smartphone plugged in overnight can slowly reduce the lifespan of your battery.

“Lithium-ion batteries can react poorly if your phone experiences elevated temperatures, leading to a damaging effect,” explains Shane. “If you have a case on your device that does not allow heat to escape, this heat will increase the temperature of the battery and will cause cell oxidation, which will shrink the capacity and shorten the lifespan.”
Make sure you take your phone case off at night if you’re going to leave your phone plugged in and charging, in other words.

What’s the optimum way to charge your phone?

“The sweet spot for lithium-ion batteries is to keep them charged between 50 and 80 percent. This allows for the charged ions to continue to work and protect the life of your battery,” says Shane. “Charging your device in short spurts throughout the day will give these ions just enough energy to keep them going.”
So frequent top-ups, rather than one daily charge up, is healthier for your battery. It’s not convenient, but that’s the optimal way to charge your smartphone if you want to ensure the longest life possible.

What to avoid

“The major threat to your battery is charge cycles,” Shane explains. “A charge cycle is where your battery goes from empty or near-empty to full — and every phone battery has a limited number of charge cycles before the end of its life.”

Denys Prykhodov/Shutterstock

You may have a high number of charge cycles before that limit is reached, but eventually the battery is going to noticeably degrade. When it does, you’ll find that it lasts only a very short amount of time, or it will simply not turn on at all.

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Printer configuration for Ubuntu 11.10 and 12.04

Recent versions of Ubuntu use CUPS for printing, but disable detection of network printer advertisements by default. By turning it on you should see all available printers.

Enabling Network Printer Browsing

Prior to Ubuntu 13.04 it was possible to do this using the printer config UI, but now we have to use the command line.
Start a command line terminal then (as user root) run this command:

cupsctl BrowseRemoteProtocols=cups

Now startup System Settings. You can do this using the icon at top right of the desktop:
Then click on Printers and do NOT click on the Add button:
Wait anything from a few seconds to a few minutes and you should see lots of printers available:

Example of Printing

Double clicking on a printer such as bcopy (DAMTP printer in Pav B) brings up the properties of it, including the location:

Additional Information

All of our printers default to using A4 paper and most which can print double-sided (duplex) will do so by default.
If you do not see any printers, or cannot view the properties etc. you need to first be authenticated to the network in order to print.

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To Remove BitLocker Encryption in Windows 7

Last Time, we take up encrypting and adding password to usb stick for security in Windows 7 using BitLocker To Go feature. Overall, the utility is very useful but unfortunately it will not be included in the Home Premium Editions of Windows 7. Better go to the Ultimate version to get this function. 

Anyway, How to Turn-Off the Encryption afterwards?

Quick Information: BitLocker Drive Encryption is a security in Windows 7 Ultimate and Enterprise edition designed to help protect data from being accessed or opened by unauthorized users.

Unlocking the Encrypted Drive
Simply type “BitLocker” in Start Menu Search

and Open the BitLocker Drive Encryption Program
 
Once it opens, just find the drive and click "Turn Off BitLocker”

It will ask for a confirmation: “Your drive will be decrypted. This may take considerable time. You can monitor the status of your drive decryption.”
Just proceed by clicking Decrypt Drive
  
Wait… wait… wait

That’s it…
Enjoy!

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How to Turn Off BitLocker in Windows 8, Windows 8.1

Some users have been complaining about an issue regarding BitLocker encryption on Windows 8.1 devices, mainly, an incompatibility between a drive encrypted on Windows 7 and later used in a Windows 8.1 machine. If you are experiencing this issue, then maybe this guide will give you the solution.



If you have not heard about BitLocker by now, and you want an extra layer of security for your Windows computer, then you should definitely do some research regarding what it can do and how it can protect your files. But even with its advantages, Microsoft’s encryption feature has some issues when moving drives from Windows 7 computers to Windows 8 or Windows 8.1.

How to Disable BitLocker on Windows 8 / 8.1

We’ll consider the following scenario: you have been using BitLocker on a Windows 7 computer and you have recently bought a new Windows 8 / 8.1 computer and you want to install your old hard drive into the new tower. When you try to access the encrypted partitions, Windows 8 / 8.1 advises you to turn off BitLocker or does not recognize your password. There are a few ways around this problem, some being simpler then others, and it is up to you to determine which of them can be of use in your case. Here’s how you disable BitLocker on Windows 8 or Windows 8.1

Method 1: Disable BitLocker from Windows 8 Control Panel

Similarly to how you’d go about this problem in Windows 7, it might work to disable BitLocker from Control Panel, assuming you know your passkey and it still works. To disable BitLocker from Windows 8, open the Search charm and type “Manage BitLocker” and click on the utility. This will open the BitLocker window, where you you will see all your partitions and you can either select to suspend BitLocker or completely disable it. Select the option you want and follow the wizard.

Method 2: Disable BitLocker from Windows 8 using the Local Group Policy Editor

If the first method is not a viable option for you, then using the Group Policy utility (GPO) might offer the solution. To do this, open the Search charm in your Windows 8 machine and type in “Group Policy“, then select “Edit Group Policy“. From here, navigate using the left-hand side menu to Computer Configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Windows Components – > BitLocker Drive Encryption -> Fixed Data Drives and select the “Deny write access to fixed drives not protected by BitLocker” option and double click it.
In the window which opens, click the radio button corresponding to the “Not Configured” option, click Apply and restart your computer. This should fix your problem

Method 3: Use Windows 7 to disable BitLocker

If both methods have failed, then all you’re left with is installing your encrypted hard drive back into your Windows 7 computer and going through the methods once again. In this scenario, method 1 will fix your problem and decrypt your drive, allowing you to use it in your Windows 8 / 8.1 computer.

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Top 10 Things Your Smartphone Sucks At (and How to Fix Them)

Sometimes, smartphones can be a boon for your personal productivity, but other times it's amazing how much trouble they have performing simple tasks. Here are ten things your phone probably sucks at, and how to make it work better.

10. Lasting Until the Next Charge

When you have something that runs on batteries, it's inevitable that it'll run out of juice. That's just the nature of the beast. But oftentimes, your battery dies long before you want it to, and that's not good (remember how long dumbphones used to last?). Luckily, there are two things you can do to fix this: first; make sure your phone isn't wasting its battery. Check out our guides to getting better battery life on Android and the iPhone for more. Next, just make sure you charge it whenever you can. It's easier than you think—and we have strategies for that too. Image by Jaroslav Machacek (Shutterstock).

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9. Understanding What You Type

This one isn't really your phone's fault—it tries really hard—it's just that typing on a keyboard that tiny is really difficult (even with the sometimes-hilarious autocorrect helping you out). The best solution is to improve your typing skills, but if you're on Android, you're also lucky enough to have your choice of keyboards. Here are the five best keyboards around, but if you don't like those, check out our guide on finding the right keyboard for you. With the right tools and some honed skills, you should make typing with your thumbs just a little bit easier.

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8. Giving You Control

I don't want the Blockbuster app on my phone. Why can't I get rid of it? I want to use Google Maps for all my navigation. Why won't my iPhone let me? Sure, you could root or jailbreak, but manufacturers are constantly working against you to make that more difficult, and even the Nexus phones come with some unnecessary apps these days. At least they're a bit easier to root, but good luck finding one on your carrier of choice—depending on the device, that's all luck. Thankfully, you can at least make up for some of this by rooting, jailbreaking, unlocking, and getting rid of that crapware on the phone you do have—no thanks to the manufacturers and carriers, of course. Image remixed from myVector (Shutterstock).

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7. Being Durable

Remember the days of Nokia phones that could survive a nuclear holocaust? What happened to those? These days, it seems like dusting your phone wrong could crack the screen, cause your buttons to stop working, or even just wear on that darn battery cover. We understand it's all in the name of design, and luckily you can fix most of these things yourself—whether it's replacing the screen, making the most of your broken buttons, or just getting a case to protect it all.

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6. Taking Good Pictures

This has become less of a problem over the years, but smartphone cameras are still far from the best cameras around—yet most of us have replaced out superior point-and-shoots with the cameras in our pockets. Luckily, while they don't always take the best of pictures, there's a lot you can do to make the best of what you've got. Take extra care to follow the basic rules of photography (like using your light), tweak your camera app's settings, and even do a little post-processing work to make those pictures usable.

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5. Keeping You Focused

It's nice to have a phone that gets email, browses the web, and entertains you when you're bored. The problem? It also distracts you while you're driving, keeps you from interacting with people, and all-around annoys the people around you. You don't need to give up your smartphone to stay focused, though—you just need to change how you use it. Read up on the most annoying things you do with your phone that you should quit for more info.

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4. Staying Up to Date

It's amazing how fast a "modern" phone can start to feel out of date. The iPhone 4 can't navigate using Apple Maps, and multiple Android phones from the past two years have no hope of getting Jelly Bean (or even Ice Cream Sandwich). As annoying as this is, a little ingenuity (and a few good apps) can get around this problem nicely. We always try to keep you up to date with the latest OS' features now, whether it be iOS 6 or Android Jelly Bean. Plus, with the right buying and selling tactics, you can upgrade to the latest and greatest every few months, without spending a fortune.

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3. Giving You a Moment's Peace and Quiet

Out of the box, your phone probably vies for your attention a lot. All those notifications are annoying at best, and productivity-killing at worst. You could just put your phone on silent, but you're better off pruning your notifications and optimizing how you use them. Turn off the notifications you don't need, keeping only the important ones, and give them each a different tone so you know whether something is important (and when it can be left alone). With a good system in place, you should be able to keep your phone from going off every ding dong second and keep your sanity in place.

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2. Saving You Money

When did having a phone get so gosh darn expensive? If your wallet's feeling a little light, never fear—there are a few things you can do to keep the cost down (that the carriers probably won't tell you about). First of all, you can trim a bit off those bills by using free services like Google Voice to cut down on texting, or VOIP services to cut down on minutes usage. If you've lost your coveted unlimited data plan, you can reign in usage to make sure you don't incur overages (or, if you don't want data, you can get rid of it altogether). However, if you're really looking to save some dough, go prepaid. The average iPhone user can save over $1000 by switching to a prepaid plan, so if you're tired of paying up the nose for cellphone bills, that's one of your best options. Photo by Jason Rogers.

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1. Being a Phone

Shockingly, the thing your phone is worst at? Being a freaking phone. When we polled you about your biggest smartphone annoyances, dropped calls were one of the most cited problems, and unfortunately, there's only so much you can do about it. We offered a few solutions, but generally the best thing you can do is optimize your phone's reception (and not just by holding it correctly). If you get particularly bad reception in your home or office, there are a few ways to work around that, but if you seem to have it more often than not, you'll need to get to the bottom of why before you fix it. In the end, the best thing you can do is have a secondary phone line—whether it be a landline, VOIP on your computer, or even VOIP on your phone—to make sure you're always connected. Image remixed from assets from PSDGraphics.

Obviously, not every phone has these problems—some may have okay battery life, or get fewer dropped calls, but we went a little tongue-in-cheek for the sake of humor.

Seriously, though: does anyone else think it's amazing how modern smartphones lack basic features we hold valuable? My phone can act as a wallet, but it can't hold a charge for more than a day? I can download 10 different navigation apps, but I can't make any of them the default over Apple's? Seems like maybe some priorities are a bit out of whack. Can I get an Amen?

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