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Where is the Network Utility in OS X Mavericks?

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OS X Network Utility icon

In OS X the network utility has been a efficient and convenient way to perform basic tests on your network like ping , trace route, netstat, whois, finger, and port scan. The utility provides all of these tools with the benefit of having a nice graphical user interface to work with (GUI).

The Network Utility has always been included with the installation of OS X and it still is with Mavericks, but it’s no longer in your main applications folder. It has been moved to (/System/Library/CoreServices/Applications).

  • You can easily find the Network Utility in OS X Mavericks by Using Spotlight (the magnifying glass in the top right corner of the screen) and Typing “Network Utility”.

How To Open Windows 8 Style Apps in Desktop Mode

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Windows 8 is unlike any other Windows OS we’ve seen and although the new “tile system” is pretty cool. The look and feel of full screen applications on Windows 8 are also a big departure from what we’re used to, but not everyone is enjoying it.

ModernMixSS

If you’re one of those people who have a few favorite apps that are exclusive to the new Windows 8 style UI (metro) and would much rather have them open up on the “classic desktop” in a regular window, then you’re in luck.

There’s a great app from Stardock called ModernMix that does all of this for you and isn’t just a change of appearance either. These are fully functional windows that can be resized, pinned to the taskbar, and completely closed using the familiar “X” button.

Sounds simple enough, and if you’re not enjoying the new style of Windows then this could be a perfect solution.

You can try it for free for a month and the application is only $4.99 to purchase.

How To Fix Your Windows 8 Master Boot Record (MBR)

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openHarddrive

If you’ve been playing around with Linux or some other type of OS installation on your PC and you want to go back to Windows, but you get a MBR (Master Boot Record) error, then don’t worry there’s hope. This error can also happen for other reasons like a virus but the fix is usually the same.

The problem is just as the error message states, you have a problem with your MBR. The MBR contains important information about partitions and files that are needed to boot up your PC. Without an intact MBR, your PC will fail to boot properly and therefore it’s important that you get it back in working shape.

Here’s a step-by-step process on how to fix your MBR:

  • Find your Windows 8 DVD and insert it into your computer.
  • Make sure your computer is set to boot from the DVD drive first ( You may need to enter the BIOS for this, See your PC’s documentation).
  • Boot your computer from the Windows 8 disc.
  • The first screen that will popup after the DVD boots your machine is the Language selection screen, click “Next”.
  • On the “Install Now” screen go to the lower left hand section of the window and click “Repair Your Computer”.
  • Now Click “Troubleshoot”
  • Click “Advanced Options”
  • Click “Command Prompt”
  • You will now see a black command window, type BOOTREC /FIXMBR and then press enter.
  • After you press enter you should see the message “The operation completed successfully.”. Now you can type EXIT and press enter. Now you can select “Turn off your PC”.

Once you turn your PC back on you should see that your issue has been resolved!

Wifi Analyzer

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This handy little app will help you optimize your wireless network as well as find others with ease, and all for the great price of free. You can get this Android app from Google Play and start optimizing your wireless network immediately.

WiFi Analyzer Screen Shot

Besides being fun this app is useful when trying to pin down which wifi channels are less crowded. It has an easy to read display with good amount of customizable features. With the the Scan interval option set at its shortest you can watch your signal increase or decrease in near real time. One of the view options included is the signal strength over time which i found quite useful when checking for interference. This app is simple but very useful and for free its definately worth checking out.

How To Protect your Wi-Fi Connection

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You might be surprised to see just how many people are using unsecured Wi-Fi connections in their homes. I see this all the time and am quick to help them lock up their connections. Keeping your Wi-Fi connection secure not only improves your speed by keeping the neighbors kid from gaming on your internet connection while you try to download the latest movie but also keeps your private data from being intercepted as well.

Here are a few good security tips to follow.lock and keys

Make sure you change the default user name and password to your router. Many routers use a default user name and password that is universal and if you don’t change it anyone can get access to your router. I have actually seen scenarios where someone will encrypt their Wi-Fi connection only to leave their router credentials at the default. This is counter productive as a would be internet thief could simply log in and change your security settings to gain access to your network.

Enable WEP or WPA. WEP and WPA are technologies that will encrypt the data sent over your wireless network. When choosing a security type be sure it is comparable with all of your devices. If you set up your encryption but your old iMac wont connect to the network even with the right password, you might need to change to a different encryption type such as WEP.

MAC address filtering. Any device you use to connect to a wireless network will have a physical address or MAC address associated with with it. Your router keeps track of each device connecting to it by using its MAC address. Your router or access point will have features in it that allow you to only provide connectivity to certain MAC addresses you list.

Locking down your Wi-Fi connection is simple and can be done fairly easy. Many routers and access points these days come already encrypted and have software to help you along.