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Open Office is a free suite of software available to computer users that is compatible with Microsoft Office products. The program allows users to create documents, manage databases, perform mathematical calculations and even create spreadsheets. When using Open Office you may find you need to translate documents to and from multiple languages. This capability is supported (also for free) by installing the Open Office Translator plug-in application on your computer....

Before internal DVD drives became standard in most desktop and laptop computers, external DVD burners were the go-to devices for burning discs. They still are today for computers that don’t feature such a drive. Memorex is one company that manufactures external DVD burners. If the burner is not working exactly as it should, look for basic solutions before taking more drastic measures. Tips Writer Bio

Audio drivers for your computer can come in different types depending on the model of computer you are using. One type of audio driver that is typically found on many desktop computer systems is the Realtek High Definition Audio driver. When there are problems with this type of audio driver, you will need to troubleshoot to find the cause. This can involve running the Intel Audio Wizard or re-installing the Realtek HD Audio driver on your system....

Blinking lights on the IBM Wheelwriter 6 Series II signal battery failure, full storage capacity, printwheel malfunction and other basic problems. Beeper sounds mean that something is wrong with the typewriter. Most issues that come about are easy to solve if you know where to look. Learning how to read the Wheelwriter’s lights and sounds correctly can make your troubleshooting and repair tasks less cumbersome. Use a systematic approach that starts with looking at how the machine is powered up....

For the hearing impaired, Sharp Aquos LCD televisions come equipped with closed captioning built-in. When the feature is on, you can see an on-screen transcription of the audio, including conversations and a description of sound effects. The feature is available for digital programs and some analog programs. As long as you have the remote control for your television, you can switch the feature on or off at the click of a button....

All new iMac desktop computers and MacBook Pro and MacBook Air laptops come with a built-in FaceTime HD camera, which you can use to shoot pictures and videos and make free video calls over the Internet. The camera’s lens is located above the screen. It does not have a physical switch to turn it on and off. Instead, the camera turns on automatically when you launch an application that uses the camera....

Wireless connectivity is a must-have for laptop owners. There are many places around the world where you can access Wi-Fi connections, making wireless features all the more functional. The Dell Inpiron E1505 model comes pre-installed with a wireless network receiver that allows you to access the Internet. Many laptops feature a wireless switch that can be turned on or off. However, most Dell laptops use a keyboard shortcut to turn the machine’s wireless capabilities on and off....

Windows automatically installs drivers when you’re connected to the Internet, but if they don’t work correctly or conflict with drivers from a disc, Windows provides several ways to remove them. Device Manager lists drivers for essential components, such as USB and networking cards, while the PC Settings menu contains driver settings for external devices, such as printers and scanners. If Windows loads a problematic driver at startup, you can prevent it from doing so by booting into safe mode, a Windows startup option that enables you to diagnose PC problems and roll back updates....

The Garmin nüvi 700 series are GPS devices with preloaded map information that use Global Positioning Satellites to help you navigate. If you have found that the maps loaded onto your Garmin nüvi 700 series device are outdated or if you want some added features, you can download new data and update your Garmin.

The Kenwood DNX9960 is an in-dash navigation system that features turn-by-turn directions, built-in Bluetooth, traffic alerts and Garmin maps. On occasion, updates are released for the Garmin software that adds extra features, or fixes known issues. Before updating the DNX9960 with Garmin’s latest software, it is necessary to update the device’s firmware through the Kenwood website. After doing so, the Garmin update can be downloaded and installed on the device....

Most modern GPS systems store their maps internally, either on an SD card or in their own system memory. However, the in-dash navigation systems in the Chrysler Pacifica and many other cars use a DVD to store maps. This means you won’t be able to simply download updated maps from a website – but purchasing and using an updated DVD is simple. Tips Writer Bio

Microsoft Outlook Express is the free version of the Microsoft email client. Outlook Express, like most software, requires periodic updates to keep it running smoothly and correctly. If you do not have automatic updates turned on, you have to update Outlook Express manually to ensure the program stays up to date. Warnings Writer Bio

OnStar is a digital service that provides safety and security measures for your vehicle. The service is subscription-based and is exclusive to General Motors vehicle owners. OnStar features roadside assistance, navigation and even basic vehicle diagnostics. Should your car ever be stolen, OnStar can alter the vehicle’s speed and fully disrupt the ignition sequence. Upgrading OnStar is easy to do if you have Bluetooth technology installed in your vehicle. Tips Warnings Writer Bio

Voice mail greetings are recorded greetings from the phone owner, so callers will know they have reached the right phone. Greetings are played when the phone owner can’t answer the phone, and the caller is then transferred to voice mail. Voice mail greetings often tell callers to leave their name, their number and a brief message. You can choose to record your own personal greeting, use an automated custom message from your service provider, or find a greeting online and record it as your own....

Posting audio on Twitter is an interesting alternative to a plain text message. Audio messages come in forms such as a song, voice recording, an audio file from your computer or even a computer text-to-speech message. However, Twitter doesn’t host audio files on its own servers. You must use a third-party tool to create and host your audio message. There are several free websites designed for this purpose, with the ability to quickly create and share your audio on Twitter....

One of the most direct ways to charge your Garmin GPS when you’re on the go is to use the cigarette lighter adapter that came with your unit. If the cigarette lighter in your car is broken or missing, however, you can still charge your Garmin over USB by connecting the cable to your computer or a USB outlet in your car, if one is available.

The Magellan 315 GPS was released in 1999 and possesses a great deal of functionality for a such a small device. The Magellan 315 requires only two AA batteries, and comes with an optional computer connection cable that allows you to download about half a million points of interest. The GPS device also comes preloaded with coordinates for more than 11,000 U.S. cities. It’s also easy to use, with a standard keyboard interface that consists of an up/down/left/right rocker switch....

Depending on which Facebook apps you use, there are two ways to post a picture directly onto a friend’s profile or timeline page. If you use the Facebook Camera app, the only way to to put a picture on your friends’ timelines is to tag them in the picture. This puts it on their timelines and yours at the same time. You can tag friends in the Facebook app too, but this app also lets you post photos on a friend’s timeline without tagging and without it appearing on your own timeline....

Creating a user manual may be a trial and error exercise in research, documentation, and formatting, but the final product makes the effort worthwhile. Microsoft Word’s templates provide the framework, allowing you to concentrate on the presentation of information about your product or service. While working within one of Word’s templates, you have the freedom to customize the document to your needs. Tips Writer Bio

Webcams help people all over the world communicate face to face from remote locations, but the images they produce are not of the best quality. Luckily, with the right software, it is possible to rig high-quality SLR cameras to act as webcams. Though SLRs, like the Canon Rebel T1i, are not designed to be used as webcams, the live view feed can be transferred to video chat software when connected to a computer....