Week 12 Posting - Wrap Up

 I used to blog when I was younger, but I last did it over ten years ago. Creating a blog post every week was such a refreshing assignment that I looked forward to it each week. I will only be blogging in the future if required again for another assignment or job. The things I learned throughout this semester don't fit in with my current job since I am a closer at a retail store. Hopefully, one day in the future, being able to blog will help me get hired for a different position. Though my small town is mainly a farming community, blogging doesn't help in finding employment. This will likely be my final blog unless I am tasked to do it again for a future assignment. Goodbye, blogging world!

Week 11 Posting - Printers

 This week, I learned that printers can fall victim to attacks from hackers. I never considered that printers could be a weak link in a secured system. It is as simple as someone coming into your place of business and inserting a flash drive with malware into the USB slow on the printer, and it can then infect all of the devices connected to the same network. Also, someone can even receive the information being printed. It is like clicking the printer to print the last print job; instead, the intruder collects the information. There are so many vulnerabilities if they are not adequately managed. Time to ensure my printer is secured, safe, and happy!

Week 10 Posting - Android

 After researching what Android has over iOS, I learned that the app store hugely differs in the content available. Since iOS is way stricter than Android, they have fewer apps in general, and some apps I enjoy on Android are unavailable on iOS. 

Another difference is how customizable your mobile device is using Android compared to iOS. I know iOS now, compared to a few years ago, is better in that department, but that means they are playing catch up. Being able to customize your home screen and widget placement goes a long way in making your mobile device feel like it is yours. Android all the way!

Week 9 Posting - Laptop RAM and Desktop RAM

 I checked out the difference between PC RAM and laptop RAM so I could learn more about the differences other than their size. The way they are installed is already a big difference. Many laptop RAM is soldered directly onto the motherboard, so you cannot upgrade it. So, if you want to upgrade your laptop's RAM, you have to take it to a technician or go directly through the manufacturer if they even allow you to do that. Laptop RAM is also usually less powerful than desktop RAM, but it also means they are more energy efficient. Both desktop RAM and laptop RAM are designed for two different systems and purposes. So always research the specs for your potential laptop and make sure it can fit whatever you might have it do before purchasing and finding out later that it does not have enough of something vital to your needs. 

Week 8 Posting - Ethernet Cables

     I have always been curious about learning the physical-layer specifications of an ethernet cable. When looking online to replace old ethernet cables, I always wondered what Cat3, Cat-5, RG-whatever actually meant. Having access to a list that explains in detail all the different available cable types, what they're made of, and their main purpose is exactly what I wanted to know for many years now. Not all cables transmit at the same speed either. I thought it was just their construction and length that differed, not the amount of data that could be transmitted. Some cables can do 100 Mbit/s, 1 Gbit/s, 2.5 and 5 Mbit/s, 10 Mbit/s, and the list just keeps going. Each cable has its application, and choosing what is best for your or your company's needs can save money. 

Week 7 Posting - BSoD

 I have a PC running into the Blue Screen of Death every few minutes, and everything I have done has yet to find a fix. Chapter 16 has shown me many troubleshooting options and techniques I have yet to attempt. After checking out the error code given to me during the BSoD and following the instructions in the chapter, I realized the issue might be a faulty RAM stick.

I can not believe how this one chapter alone has given me more help with diagnosing my PC's problem. I need to order new compatible RAM and slot them in to see if that was the issue. Thank you, Mike Meyers!

Week 6 Posting - Defragmenting

 I have always used Disk Defragmenter on my PCs every month or so, and I knew that it would make my PC run faster, but I needed to understand how the process worked. Finding out that data is saved on a physical location on the hard drive was something I did not know until researching defragmentation. I used to think that the hard drive was like a pool, and the data was the water being poured into it. It didn't matter where the data was in the whole scheme. Data is stored in a single spot and stays in that exact physical location unless moved. So when you defragment, it is physically moving the data around so that it will spend less time in the future grabbing data from all around the hard drive. It makes sense now why scratched DVDs freeze in the exact location because the data is physically there for the particular scene. It sounds like something that should have been obvious from the start, but I am glad I know this now.