How do you start trading? To get started, you will need a trading account which you can acquire online. You will also need foreign exchange trading software which you may install on your computer or access via internet browsers. You can open an online currency trading account, also known as micro account, for a couple hundred dollars. The micro account, as well as the mini trading account, is a good way to start trading as you can dabble in the world of the forex market without risking too much. About USD1,000 for the micro account is a good place to start.

There are numerous advantages and benefits that can be derived from forex trading. One clear advantage is the absence of commissions - there are no excessive fees such as government fees, clearing fees, or brokerage fees. There are also no middle men involved in trading. Spot currency forex trading will allow you to trade directly with the market. Low transaction costs are also another plus for forex trading - the transaction cost for forex trading is generally below 0.1% when in normal market conditions. 24-hour availability is also another advantage - you can trade anytime, anywhere. No single party can control the forex market - another plus to forex trading.

There are a lot of great benefits to forex trading - and some of the better benefits are available for people who are just starting out. Free demo accounts, information, and news are available - allowing newbies to learn about the market while practicing their trading skills. Mini and Micro trading will also greatly benefit amateurs as these accounts can let them trade in the forex market without risking too much money.

GOOGLE GADGET CODE

Just started in the forex market and with not enough funds to open a regular account. It requires a smaller capital compared to regular forex accounts, a minimum of $300. With mini forex trading, you can control a $10,000 currency position. The key here is leverage. Because of leverage, a trader can trade in a commodity more than the money available in his account. Say with a $250 deposit, one could trade a maximum of 5 mini lots. This kind of leverage is greater than stocks or day trading.

What to trade in Forex Market?

In the forex market, currency trading is always done in currency pairs, such as EUR/USD or GBP/USD. Accordingly, all trades result in the simultaneous buying of one currency and the selling of another. The base currency is the "basis" for the buy or the sell. It is useful to consider the currency pair as an instrument, which can be bought or sold.

Understanding Forex quote

• Base currency: The first currency in the pair.
• Counter Currency: The second currency in the pair. Also known as the terms currency.

The US dollar is the centerpiece of the Forex market and is normally considered the ’base’ currency for quotes. This includes USD/JPY, USD/CHF and USD/CAD. For these currencies and many others, quotes are expressed as a unit of $1 USD per the second currency quoted in the pair. For example, a quote of USD/CAD 1.1302 means that one U.S. dollar is equal to 1.1302 Canadian dollar.

Trading in Forex will require you to trade in pairs. Because you purchase currency, you sell another at the same time. There are a lot of currency pairs in the Forex market. However, the most commonly traded currency pairs in the Forex market are: USD/GBP, USD/JPY, USD/CHF, and GBP/USD. These four are the most popular currency pairs traded in the Forex market and where people are more likely to gain income. Although trading in the Forex market can really give you the chance of earning a lot of money, it is also a fact that you can also lose a lot of money. This is because Forex is traded on margin. For example, with a 1 percent margin, your 1000 dollars can give you leverage of 1000 dollars. This means that your rate of return will be 100 percent of each percentage change upwards. However, your loss will also be equally great if the market conditions went against you. This is why you have to have the proper skills and knowledge about the Forex market before you begin to trade. Also, you need to understand that when you invest in this market, make sure you can afford to lose what you invest. This is not necessarily attractive but if you want to make money, you also have to be prepared to lose money. If you are an inexperienced Forex trader, you should consider hiring a Forex broker and analysts to guide you in your money-making venture. You can also consider opening a dummy account or taking a Forex trading course in your local business school or in online schools. Knowing the basics in Forex trading can be very beneficial. So, try and look for some time where you can practice your trading skills and strategies in dummy accounts or attending Forex trading courses

Open an Account with a forex borker

Opening a FOREX account is as simple as filling out a form and providing the necessary identification. The form includes a margin agreement which states that the broker may interfere with any trade deemed to be too risky. This is to protect the interests of the broker, since most trades are done using the broker’s money.

Once your account has been established, you can fund it and begin trading.

Many brokers offer a variety of accounts to suit the needs of individual investors. Mini accounts allow you to get involved in FOREX trading for as little as $250. Standard accounts may have a minimum deposit of $1000 to $2500, depending on the broker. The amount of leverage (how much borrowed money you can use) varies with account type. High leverage accounts give you more money to trade for a given investment.

Trades are commission-free, meaning that you can make many trades in one day without worrying about incurring high brokerage fees. Brokers make their money on the ’spread’: the difference between bid and ask prices.

Paper Trading Forex Market

Beginning traders are strongly advised get accustomed to FOREX by doing "paper trades" for a period of time. Paper trades are practice transactions that don’t involve real capital. They allow you to see how the system works while learning how to use the various software tools provided by most FOREX brokers.

Most online brokers have demo accounts that allow you to make free paper trades for up to 30 days. Every new FOREX investor should use these demo accounts at least until they are consistently showing profits.

FOREX Software

Each forex broker has its own set of software tools for making transactions, but there are a few tools that are common to all FOREX brokers. Real-time quotes, news feeds, technical analyses and charts, and profit-and-loss analyses are some of the features you can expect to see on most online brokers’ web sites.

Almost every broker operates on the Internet. To access a broker’s online services you’ll need a reasonably modern computer, a fast Internet connection, and an up-to-date operating system. Once your account is set up, you can access it from any computer just by entering your account name and password. If for some reason you are unable get to a computer, most brokers will allow you to make trades over the phone.

Increase your Bandwidth by 20%

Windows uses 20% of your bandwidth! Get it back

A nice little tweak for XP. M*crosoft reserve 20% of your available bandwidth for their own purposes (suspect for updates and interrogating your machine etc..)

Here's how to get it back:

Click Start-->Run-->type "gpedit.msc" without the "

This opens the group policy editor. Then go to:

Local Computer Policy-->Computer Configuration-->Administrative Templates-->Network-->QOS Packet Scheduler-->Limit Reservable Bandwidth

Double click on Limit Reservable bandwidth. It will say it is not configured, but the truth is under the 'Explain' tab :

"By default, the Packet Scheduler limits the system to 20 percent of the bandwidth of a connection, but you can use this setting to override the default."

So the trick is to ENABLE reservable bandwidth, then set it to ZERO. This will allow the system to reserve nothing, rather than the default 20%.

works on XP Pro, and 2000

other OS not tested.

Warning : If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. This trick cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To comply with current Internet standards, Internet Explorer limits the number of simultaneous downloads to two downloads, plus one queued download. This configuration is a function of the browser. However, as connection speeds increase, and the number of total connections that are allowed to Internet servers increase, the two-connection limit may be restrictive. To increase the number of simultaneous connections that are allowed to 10, follow these steps:

1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe). OR Click >>> Start >>> Run >>> type : regedit >>> Enter
   

2. Locate the following key in the registry :

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings

3. On the Edit menu, point to New click DWORD Value, and then add the following registry Value :
   Value name : MaxConnectionsPer1_0Server
   Value data: 10
   Base: Decimal
   Value Name : MaxConnectionsPerServer
   Value data: 10
   Base: Decimal

4. Quit
   
   

This procedure is for informational purposes only. Changing the maximum number of connections beyond two is a violation of Internet standards, This trick not recommend this procedure for use outside closed networks.

(BE CAREFUL! use at your own risk)

Step 1
Put the BootCD 8 or newer in CD Drive

OR
If you want to extract boot files from iso then Download extract-boot-files
Extract and open readme for more instruction. and skip to step 4

Step 2
Start Mini Windows 98

Step 3
Copy Files From A:\ (Floppy Drive) using Explorer to C:\USB and Restart Computer to normal Windows

OR
Note: if you can not see your hard drive from mini windows 98 then you will need a blank floppy disk.
click Start > Turn Off > Exit to Dos and type COPY A:\*.* B:\
Now remove floppy and Restart Computer to your normal Windows and insert your floppy disk
and copy all files from floppy disk to C:\USB

Step 4
Download USB Disk Storage Format (34KB)

Note: USB Disk Storage Format works on xp, for windows 98 Go to My computer and
Right click on the USB Drive and click on format. You will need a USB Flash Drive 128MB or more

Step 5
Copy All Files From C:\USB to Your USB Flash Drive
Please note: Do not overwrite IO.SYS when it prompts
Delete JO.SYS from USB Drive (NOT IO.SYS)

Step 6
Copy \BOOTCD folder to Your USB Drive

Step 7
Test Your USB Drive

To Enter the BIOS press the "Del" button on your keyboard. Alternatives are "F1", "F2", "Insert", and "F10". Some PC's BIOS might even require a different key to be pressed. Commonly a PC will show a message like "Press [Del] to enter Setup" to indicate that you need to press the "Del" key. Some AMI BIOS require you to enable the option "USB Keyboard Legacy support"!

For AMI BIOS:

• Go to "Feature Setup". "Enable" these options: "USB Function Support",
  "USB Function For DOS" and "ThumbDrive for DOS". Go to "Advanced Setup".
  Set the "1st Boot Device" to "USB RMD-FDD".
  Reboot the PC and it now should boot from the Usb Stick.
• Go to "USB Mass Storage Device Configuration". Select "Emulation Type"
  and set it to "Harddisk". Go to the "Boot Menu" and set the "1st boot device" to "USB-Stick". Exit the BIOS, saving the changes.
  you can try "Emulation Type" to "Floppy" or "Forced FDD".

For PHOENIX/AWARD BIOS:

• Go to "Advanced BIOS Features". Go to the "1st Boot device" and set it to "USB-ZIP".

---

If you are having problem while it creates Ram Drive then you may want to edit and delete all the /numhandles=128 from config.sys

Some users reported that it works fine on smaller (128MB) Usb Drives but not on 512MB or larger (cursor blinking at the top left corner)

More Success Reports:
Extract win98-dos (or try winme-dos) files in C:\USB before you use usb_format.exe (Step 4)

Thankx Q from Hiren Boot

(BE CAREFUL! use at your own risk)

This is a very simple step-by-step. I'm sure a lot here know this, so this is for those who are new to uhm, getting around restrictions Very Happy

The Command Prompt is a darling, helps us do stuff that Win would not otherwise allow Rolling Eyes

But your office or school may block access to it, along with other restrictions.

To get around that:

1) Open notepad. If notepad is restricted too, do this --- go to any non-restricted site, then click on View ---> Source. Click on it and there, you have Notepad

Twisted Evil

Delete all the contents of that notepad with all the source html gobbledygook. You don't need that Very Happy)

2) Type in command.com in your notepad.

3) Save this file as bat.bat (or whatever you wanna name it, as long as the extension is bat).

Save it in a secure place, like your desktop lol (joke) Very Happy Seriously, take good care not to have this batch file show up easily or you may get fired or suspended Very Happy

Once you are in the command prompt, just delete the batch.bat file Smile

Now what to do with that little darling, the command prompt?

If you know DOS, there are so maaaaaaaany things you can do with it Twisted Evil Rolling Eyes

Check out other step-by-steps I will post after this.

Here are some DOS commands you can experiment with: (BE CAREFUL! use at your own risk)

ANSI.SYS Defines functions that change display graphics, control cursor movement, and reassign keys.

APPEND Causes MS-DOS to look in other directories when editing a file or running a command.

ARP Displays, adds, and removes arp information from network devices.

ASSIGN Assign a drive letter to an alternate letter.

ASSOC View the file associations.

AT Schedule a time to execute commands or programs.

ATMADM Lists connections and addresses seen by Windows ATM call manager.

ATTRIB Display and change file attributes.

BATCH Recovery console command that executes a series of commands in a file.

BOOTCFG Recovery console command that allows a user to view, modify, and rebuild the boot.ini

BREAK Enable / disable CTRL + C feature.

CACLS View and modify file ACL's.

CALL Calls a batch file from another batch file.

CD Changes directories.

CHCP Supplement the International keyboard and character set information.

CHDIR Changes directories.

CHKDSK Check the hard disk drive running FAT for errors.

CHKNTFS Check the hard disk drive running NTFS for errors.

CHOICE Specify a listing of multiple options within a batch file.

CLS Clears the screen.

CMD Opens the command interpreter.

COLOR Easily change the foreground and background color of the MS-DOS window.

COMMAND Opens the command interpreter.

COMP Compares files.

COMPACT Compresses and uncompress files.

CONTROL Open Control Panel icons from the MS-DOS prompt.

CONVERT Convert FAT to NTFS.

COPY Copy one or more files to an alternate location.

CTTY Change the computers input/output devices.

DATE View or change the systems date.

DEBUG Debug utility to create assembly programs to modify hardware settings.

DEFRAG Re-arrange the hard disk drive to help with loading programs.

DEL Deletes one or more files.

DELETE Recovery console command that deletes a file.

DELTREE Deletes one or more files and/or directories.

DIR List the contents of one or more directory.

DISABLE Recovery console command that disables Windows system services or drivers.

DISKCOMP Compare a disk with another disk.

DISKCOPY Copy the contents of one disk and place them on another disk.

DOSKEY Command to view and execute commands that have been run in the past.

DOSSHELL A GUI to help with early MS-DOS users.

DRIVPARM Enables overwrite of original device drivers.

ECHO Displays messages and enables and disables echo.

EDIT View and edit files.

EDLIN View and edit files.

EMM386 Load extended Memory Manager.

ENABLE Recovery console command to enable a disable service or driver.

ENDLOCAL Stops the localization of the environment changes enabled by the setlocal command.

ERASE Erase files from computer.

EXIT Exit from the command interpreter.

EXPAND Expand a Microsoft Windows file back to it's original format.

EXTRACT Extract files from the Microsoft Windows cabinets.

FASTHELP Displays a listing of MS-DOS commands and information about them.

FC Compare files.

FDISK Utility used to create partitions on the hard disk drive.

FIND Search for text within a file.

FINDSTR Searches for a string of text within a file.

FIXBOOT Writes a new boot sector.

FIXMBR Writes a new boot record to a disk drive.

FOR Boolean used in batch files.

FORMAT Command to erase and prepare a disk drive.

FTP Command to connect and operate on a FTP server.

FTYPE Displays or modifies file types used in file extension associations.

GOTO Moves a batch file to a specific label or location.

GRAFTABL Show extended characters in graphics mode.

HELP Display a listing of commands and brief explanation.

IF Allows for batch files to perform conditional processing.

IFSHLP.SYS 32-bit file manager.

IPCONFIG Network command to view network adapter settings and assigned values.

KEYB Change layout of keyboard.

LABEL Change the label of a disk drive.

LH Load a device driver in to high memory.

LISTSVC Recovery console command that displays the services and drivers.

LOADFIX Load a program above the first 64k.

LOADHIGH Load a device driver in to high memory.

LOCK Lock the hard disk drive.

LOGON Recovery console command to list installations and enable administrator login.

MAP Displays the device name of a drive.

MD Command to create a new directory.

MEM Display memory on system.

MKDIR Command to create a new directory.

MODE Modify the port or display settings.

MORE Display one page at a time.

MOVE Move one or more files from one directory to another directory.

MSAV Early Microsoft Virus scanner.

MSD Diagnostics utility.

MSCDEX Utility used to load and provide access to the CD-ROM.

NBTSTAT Displays protocol statistics and current TCP/IP connections using NBT

NET Update, fix, or view the network or network settings

NETSH Configure dynamic and static network information from MS-DOS.

NETSTAT Display the TCP/IP network protocol statistics and information.

NLSFUNC Load country specific information.

NSLOOKUP Look up an IP address of a domain or host on a network.

PATH View and modify the computers path location.

PATHPING View and locate locations of network latency.

PAUSE Command used in batch files to stop the processing of a command.

PING Test / send information to another network computer or network device.

POPD Changes to the directory or network path stored by the pushd command.

POWER Conserve power with computer portables.

PRINT Prints data to a printer port.

PROMPT View and change the MS-DOS prompt.

PUSHD Stores a directory or network path in memory so it can be returned to at any time.

QBASIC Open the QBasic.

RD Removes an empty directory.

REN Renames a file or directory.

RENAME Renames a file or directory.

RMDIR Removes an empty directory.

ROUTE View and configure windows network route tables.

RUNAS Enables a user to execute a program on another computer.

SCANDISK Run the scandisk utility.

SCANREG Scan registry and recover registry from errors.

SET Change one variable or string to another.

SETLOCAL Enables local environments to be changed without affecting anything else.

SETVER Change MS-DOS version to trick older MS-DOS programs.

SHARE Installs support for file sharing and locking capabilities.

SHIFT Changes the position of replaceable parameters in a batch program.

SHUTDOWN Shutdown the computer from the MS-DOS prompt.

SMARTDRV Create a disk cache in conventional memory or extended memory.

SORT Sorts the input and displays the output to the screen.

START Start a separate window in Windows from the MS-DOS prompt.

SUBST Substitute a folder on your computer for another drive letter.

SWITCHES Remove add functions from MS-DOS.

SYS Transfer system files to disk drive.

TELNET Telnet to another computer / device from the prompt.

TIME View or modify the system time.

TITLE Change the title of their MS-DOS window.

TRACERT Visually view a network packets route across a network.

TREE View a visual tree of the hard disk drive.

TYPE Display the contents of a file.

UNDELETE Undelete a file that has been deleted.

UNFORMAT Unformat a hard disk drive.

UNLOCK Unlock a disk drive.

VER Display the version information.

VERIFY Enables or disables the feature to determine if files have been written properly.

VOL Displays the volume information about the designated drive.

XCOPY Copy multiple files, directories, and/or drives from one location to another.

To understand the commands better, at the Command Prompt just type "help [space] command" like this, if, for example, you want some help on the command "format" (note: I saved the batch.bat file on my desktop, so it shows the path to my desktop Very Happy. If you saved it someplace else, of course it will show you the path to where you saved it. There are more explanations about this command but I only captured what my screen displayed):