A Guide to Desktop PCs

When it comes to buying a desktop PC, the size of your budget may be one of the biggest considerations you may have. Depending on how much you are willing to spend, there are plenty of desktops that can easily accommodate your budget. Without a solid budget in mind, it's easy to become lost in the many different choices and options that come with desktops, whether you are building a system from scratch or buying a pre-built system package.

If you are a light PC user whose main activities include surfing the web and checking emails, a budget desktop  may be just what you are looking for. For about $300, you can purchase an affordable system from vendors such as eMachines and Acer. Granted that these desktops won't have the latest features or the most powerful hardware, but for a shopper on a tight budget, these desktops are an excellent choice.

Mainstream PCs start out at around the $500-$600 mark, and they generally have more options than budget computers, although they do not have as much content as their upper level counterparts. These computers often have larger hard drives, more memory and also come with a monitor. Mainstream computers are perfect for those who more than just surf the web and read email - tasks such as CD and DVD burning, plus other light multimedia functions can be done with ease on these machines.

As you go higher in price, you'll find more desktops will even more features, such as dedicated video graphics cards for better graphics performance and dual CD/DVD/Blu-Ray burners. Premium processors such as Intel's Core 2 Duo and AMD's Athlon are commonly found in these premium PCs. For around $1000, you can find plenty of these PCs.

Avid gaming fans looking for a system that can pack a wallop can turn to gaming desktop PCs for their powerful PC fix. These machines are tailored to gamers who love to run their latest games at the highest settings possible. Customized tower cases provide better airflow, while powerful video graphics cards such as the nVidia GTX295 and the fastest processors available deliver a solid experience that is sure to please even the most hardcore gamers. Some budget-minded gaming machines can be found for under $1500, but those looking to purchase gaming desktop PCs should expect to pay $2500 and beyond for good gaming PC.

Those who want a desktop PC that can handle heavy multimedia and graphics editing programs such as Adobe's Creative Suite and AutoCAD are likely to demand more from their desktop PCs. For $1500, these power users can find desktop PCs that can handle nearly all of their needs. These PCs share some of the components that are often found on gaming desktop PCs, but these machines are geared more towards business than they are for pleasure.

The vast majority of desktop PCs will come with Microsoft's Windows Vista preinstalled, although newer systems are appearing with the latest operating system, Windows 7. Only a few manufacturers offer PCs with the Linux operating system installed, usually upon the customer's request. Nearly all desktop PCs come available with recovery CDs and other rescue tools for fixing most operating system-related problems.

Matthew Kerridge is an expert in electronic consumables. If you would like more information about the desktop pc or are looking for a reputable desktop pc company please visit http://www.ebuyer.com

Guide to the Annual DSE (Data Storage Expo, Tokyo)

Japan is one of the world leaders in technology and it is for this reason that the annual Data Storage Expo held annually in Tokyo is considered to be one of the best and most comprehensive events of its kind in the world. The first DSE took place over a decade ago and today the event enjoys the support and participation from both local and international companies that showcase the latest trends in data storage.

The main exhibitor profiles for this exhibition can be broadly classified into ten different sections and these include Network Storage, Tapes/Drives, Removable storage disks/drives, Management Software, Information Lifecycle Management, Consulting services and other related products. If you are interested or work within any of these Data Storage sectors, the Show is the event which attracts the world's top companies and specialists in this quite niche field.

The event also features specialist exhibit areas like the Virtualization Zone and a Disaster Recovery Zone to cover some of the most popular sectors. All these exhibits focus on the latest data storage technology and the expo is a great place for budding professionals, entrepreneurs and technology developers to build new contacts, develop their client base and find new products and services to enhance their data storage needs.

The main visitors to this exhibition include managers and industry professionals from various fields that have copious data storage requirements. Other attendees of this event include information systems and network management professionals, people from industry sectors such as finance, supply chains, telecommunications, engineering, networking, manufacturing and marketing, systems development professionals and medical industry personnel.

People looking at cutting storage costs, who want a cheaper and better alternative for data storage and more efficient ways of managing their data, will find solutions at this event. Similarly, large companies looking for complex and sophisticated data storage systems will find something to suit their needs at this event.

Organised and coordinated by Reed Exhibitions in Japan, this three day event that takes place at the Tokyo International Exhibition Centre. This is an outstanding venue with excellent transportation links to the venue and with everything you are likely to need within the venue. One issue you mean be concerned with is the language issue but this is not a problem with translators available for hire and also with the nature of this event being an international event and one at which most exhibitors tend to have English speakers available for.

Catherine works in the Exhibitions and Marketing industry and writes about Table Top Kits and Exhibition Accessories.

Your Guide to Battery Types

Every mobile electronic device we own runs on battery power, yet we take batteries for granted - at least until they run out of juice. No matter what kind of device battery - laptop battery, cell phone battery, camcorder battery, remote control battery - you need, it's helpful to know the various kinds of battery types and their uses. Gel Battery - A gel battery is also known as a sealed lead acid (SLA) battery, and its distinguishing feature is that it doesn't have to be kept upright in order to work. An SLA battery continues to perform in extreme conditions, such as hot temperatures, or under vibration. SLA batteries are often used in wheelchairs, scooters, and uninterruptible power sources. It's best to keep an SLA battery charged, or to charge it more often than you would other types of batteries. NiMH - NiMH stands for Nickel Metal Hydride and is the battery of choice for many cell phones, camcorders, digital cameras, GPS systems, PDAs, and other personal electronics. NiMH batteries are also used in hybrid cars. An NiMH is a rechargeable battery that is similar to a nickel cadmium (NiCd) battery, but that has double or triple the capacity of a NiCd battery. It's best not to overcharge NiMH batteries. NiCd - NiCd stands for Nickel Cadmium, and is a type of rechargeable battery commonly used in toys, electronic devices, and power tools. Although some people prefer NiMH batteries to NiCd batteries, a NiCd battery provides virtually the same level of voltage throughout its lifetime, and costs less than an NiMH battery. LiION - LiION stands for Lithium Ion, and is one of the newest rechargeable batteries. Although they are more expensive than other types of rechargeable batteries, LiION batteries have more capacity and are often used in wireless phones, camcorders, and notebook computers. The downside of LiION batteries is that the length of their life commences from the date of manufacture, rather than from the number of times the battery is charged and discharged. It's best to regularly charge LiION batteries and store used batteries in the refrigerator. (Allow them to warm to room temperature before using them, though.) Alkaline - Alkaline batteries are not rechargeable with a battery charger, but offer a large current over a long period of time. These batteries are often used in CD players and portable radios. Carbon Zinc - Carbon Zinc batteries are known for their reliability over long periods of time in low-drain situations, such as for garage door openers or clocks. A Carbon Zinc battery is not rechargeable.

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about Your Guide to Battery Types or Majon's Electronics directory.

The Ticking Time Bomb that is Your PC

Most people who own a computer have it in the back of their mind that they need to backup there important document. What most people are less aware of is why they need to do this. In my experience most would say that it in case your computer gets stolen, a file gets mistakenly deleted, or the PC just breaks down. This is a bit of a broad reason as far as I’m concerned. The biggest reason why I backup is because the average hard disk fails when it is 3-5 years old.

When a hard disk fails it doesn’t necessarily mean that all of its contents are entirely irretrievable. More often than not, it just means that one very small part of the disk (called a sector) has gone “bad”. A bad sector is one that can’t be read because it has simply been worn out. The bit of information that was stored in that sector may or may not be recoverable by a professional data recovery technician.

Let’s take the analogy of a scratch on a CD. It might make a bit of noise or a blip at that particular part of a song, but the rest of all the other songs are still in tact. In a similar way, a bad sector may cause you to lose perhaps one file, but the rest are fine. In Windows XP, you can right-click your hard drive, choose properties, select the Tools tab, click “Check Now...” This will correct any errors on your hard disk.

This might seem like the problem has gone away, but this should be a warning shot to you. It is a signal that your hard drive has become prone to failing, and will become even more and more so as time goes by.

You will need to install a new hard disk which is pretty straight forward on most computers. Then you need to copy all of your data across which is also straight forward using a program called Acronis True Image. Once all your data is copied across you could keep using the drive but I wouldn’t store any important files on it. I use it to store video files captured off my TV tuner – these are not that important to me, so I am willing to take the risk.

Zach Hope is the author of Speed-Up-Windows-XP.com, a site that can teach anybody to speed up Windows [http://www.speed-up-windows-xp.com/speed-up-windows] to invigorate old computers. You can eliminate slow boot troubles [http://www.speed-up-windows-xp.com/slow-boot] today and transform your slow computer [http://www.speed-up-windows-xp.com/slow-computer].

Computer Repair Tips - How to Use Windows ScanDisk

I love ScanDisk. Honestly, I do. As a computer support specialist with over 18+ years of experience, I often had to use this great little utility. It's fairly powerful, works on all versions of Windows and best of all is free since it comes bundled inside Windows.

So what is it?

ScanDisk is disk-checking and diagnostic tool that you can use to test your hard drive. It can also be used repair problems on magnetic media; hard disk and floppy disks.

Why use ScanDisk?

It's a very easy to use program and even the most non-technical person can learn how to use it. It can quickly fix most common disk errors. And I did mention it's installed as a part of Windows so it is always available. If you can boot into Windows, then you can use the program.

How to use it in Windows 98/98SE/Me:

1)Close all programs.

2)Click on the "Start" button.

3)Go to "Programs"

4)Scroll to "Accessories"

5)Click on "System Tools"

6)Select "ScanDisk"

7)Now locate and select the drive you want to check (C:).

8)Check the "Standard" radio button.

9)Check the "Automatically Fix Errors"

10)Click "OK" to run.

How to use it in Windows 2000/XP/Vista

1)Close all programs before you begin.

2)Click on the "Start" button then "My Computer".

3)Right click on drive you wish to scan and then click on "Properties".

4)Now you click on the "Tools" tab at top of pop-up window.

5)Click on "Check Now" in the "Error Checking" section.

6)Check the "Automatically Fix Errors"

7)Click "OK" to run.

Testing Options in Windows 98/98SE/Me:

Standard: This option basically only checks files and folders for Windows system errors. This is good for routine maintenance checks.

Thorough: This option is not used often due to time constraints. Don't check "Thorough" unless you can let the machine run uninterrupted for several hours (2+ on larger drives) or overnight. I'm not kidding.

Thorough is used for when you are having severe hard drive issues only. When you have to check your drive for possible physical damage, check "Thorough" and then select, click "System and Data Areas"

Testing Options in Windows 2000/XP/Vista:

The "Standard" function in the older version is now the default. Just with click "Automatically Fix Errors"

To use a thorough scan to check for both system and physical errors, you should also check "Scan For and Attempt Recovery of Bad Sectors."

To run scandisk in Windows 2000/XP/Vista you have to have programs closed down, or you will keep getting a error message, "Disk check could not be performed because exclusive access to the drive..." If this keeps happening then if possible restart your computer and press "F8" after PC the logo but before Windows starts. This will let you into Windows "Safe Mode". You can run ScanDisk now but be warned it will take twice as long but will give you the same results.

ScanDisk Test Results:

After processing you should get a pop-up window with the results of your test. The important to look for is "Bytes in bad sectors". This shows the number of bytes that have been marked bad or basically unusable for storage. It's normal to have a small number of bytes in bad sectors (less than 100,000). But more than this or an increased number over time is sign for keeping your file backups up to date and saving for that bigger, better hard drive.

Sick of computer headaches? Tired of wasting money on that "computer repair guy"? To learn more fast and free fixes for your problem PC, visit http://www.fixcomputerproblemsguide.com

Hard Drive Crashed? - Repair or Rescue Any Hard Drive. From Chancer Reese, your Small Office Tech Diva.

Dell Monitor Repair (Likom L705xxx Model) With No Power Symptom

This DELL 17” Monitor (Made in Malaysia under LIKOM model L705XXX, product no: L7055LP) came in with no power symptom. Normally after opening up the cover I would look at the power supply (primary side) for any burnt and cracked components first. If there are darkened area and burnt components, I would tell myself that this Monitor needs a little more time to repair it. If it is not (component’s intact) I would usually begin to discharge the filter capacitor and start checking the fuse.

Okay, it is confirmed that all the primary side components looks good in this Monitor.

First, discharge the big fat filter capacitor with a resistor (I know that the voltage already drained off but it is a normal procedure for me because what if the start up resistor has an open circuit?) then check the fuse.

If the fuse is okay, experience will tell you that the bridge diodes are also working fine. Place your black probe of your analog meter set to x1 to the center pin (drain) of the power FET and red probe to the other pin one at a time (gate and source). If the pointer of the meter doesn’t kick then 80 % of the Power FET is okay. If you want to 100% confirm if it is good then you have to solder it out and test. If the pointer shows a reading then most probably the power FET has developed a short circuit. The result that I got from this Monitor was the pointer don’t flick.

Now is the time for me to use the dick smith flyback tester to check the smps primary winding. The result that I got was, the led bar don’t lit. Ah ha! That was a clue and this clue tells you that it is either the smps primary winding is shorted or one of the secondary diodes has given way. Of course you can check all the secondary diodes with your normal multimeter first (remember, every electronic repairers have their own procedure methods of troubleshooting) but I prefer this way as I want to confirm also if the smps primary winding is working or not.

Usually smps transformer is very robust thus I didn’t suspect it to pull down the flyback tester reading. I straight away check all the secondary diodes with my analog meter and found one diode shorted (part number U202G). Since I do not have this part number, I use a UF5404 ultra fast recovery diode as a replacement. In fact I use this UF5404 to all 14 to 17” Monitor as a replacement for all part number of secondary diodes. The spec of this diode was 400volt, 3 Amp with 50 nanosecond.

After the replacement of the diode, and placing the flyback tester probes again to the primary winding, the result shows full bar on the LED. Don’t be happy with the result yet because your job still hasn’t done.

Now I moved on to check HOT with the same procedure as checking the power FET. The HOT checked to be okay too. Next, I check the internal capacitance of the flyback transformer to see it is shorted or not or is the capacitance value run. For your information, internal capacitor in flyback transformer gave lots of problems in computer Monitor. I also scanned thru the B+ FET and found it to be good too.

Now is the time to switch on the Monitor, however this round I don’t connect any bulb because it was only a shorted diode in the secondary side. I would only connect a light bulb after repair when there is major short circuit in the primary side such as a blown bridge rectifier, shorted fet and smps primary winding and also burnt components in the board.

The DELL 17” Monitor worked beautifully and after long hours of burn-in test, I declared it okay and ready to send back to my loyal customer. Isn’t it fun to be able to repair a Monitor and at the end you get paid for something you like doing. I just love electronic repair!

Jestine Yong is a electronic repairer and a writer, for more monitor repair information, please visit his electronic repair website now.

Computer Repairs - The Secret to Solving the Easiest and Most Difficult Problems

A computer is a complex device with hardware and software components. Although modern computers are generally pretty reliable, almost everyone will face some sort of computer problem or issue eventually.

How to Handle a Computer Problem

The following discussion applies mostly to Windows based computers

The first step in solving a computer repair issue is to find the cause of the problem. This is known as troubleshooting.

Windows computers provide an event viewer. This is a record of all errors that the system detects. You should review any error reports in your event viewer to see if they identify the problem and suggest a fix. To use the event viewer, click start->run, type eventvwr.msc and enter. Click on system and look for any error reports in the right column. If there is a link in the error report, click on it to get the details. The link will often provide you with a possible solution.

Do the same for application and the other choices on the left hand side until you find something that applies to your problem.

Your operating system also provides help from the start menu. It provides step by step guidance on a great number of problems.

A web search for the symptoms of your problems will come up with a number of sites that provide step by step guidance in determining the exact cause of your problem.

Fixing the Problem

Once you have determined what the solution is, you can decide if you want to tackle it yourself.

If you are handy, many common problems are not difficult to repair such as replacing or adding memory, replacing a DVD drive or replacing a video card.

Software problems can be fixed by downloading patches or running some repair programs.

The Most Serious Problems

The Windows operating system is the heart of your system. Just as in a human being, heart problems affect the entire body in the most serious and total way, similarly operating system problems can make your computer severely sick or totally unusable. If you have a serious virus infection, constant or crippling BSODs (blue screen of death), frequent crashes or extremely slow performance, operating system repair is probably required.

In the case of XP systems, Microsoft has provided for a repair install operation which can bring your computer back to new. The best source for information about how to do the repair is provide by Michael Stevens Tech.

However, this process can be complicated and you may need to be somewhat technical to pull it off. If you don't do it right, you might get your system back but you will lose all your programs and data.

There are paid programs that can automatically fix your computer without losing any of your programs or data. These can be a life saver and they are cheaper than going to a repair outlet.

Best of luck in solving your repair issue.

David Freitag

The Computer Doc

To find out all about computer repairs and service and the best way to get your computer fixed see computer repairs

If your Windows XP system needs serious help, see repair windows XP

Why Bother to Wipe Hard Disk Drives

When you delete a file from your hard disk, it may seem as if it is gone forever. In truth, however, this is not the case. The seemingly permanent process of file deletion actually leaves the file data still on the hard disk. When a file is deleted, it is simply marked 'deleted', and the space that it occupies on the disk is accordingly marked 'ready for use'. Hence, it may be overwritten when more disk space is required, but this is by no means certain, unless the entire hard disk is filled with data.

Now, the actual data that make up the file is still on the hard disk, even after deletion. This makes it available for recovery, usually done using specially designed data recovery programs. MSDOS, in fact, has a built-in UNDELETE command which may recover recently deleted files.

The reason why file deletion is not as thorough as it can be is a simple one; resource management. Actually overwriting every bit of every file that is to be deleted will use more resources than would be practical, for everyday use. And in fact, this simple file deletion is usually sufficient for the basic user's needs.

However, security considerations might necessitate the complete erasure of a given hard disk or collection of hard disks. When reassigning hard disks, for instance, or switching computers around, confidential data might need to be deleted. To lessen the possibility that this data is recovered, a hard disk wipe may be performed.

When a hard disk wipe is performed, the entire area of the hard disk is actually overwritten with random data. This means that the data that used to be on the hard disk becomes much harder (practically impossible) to recover after such a process. Almost no traces of the previous data that used to be on the disk is left, making a hard disk wipe a secure improvement upon ordinary file deletion.

The metadata or information on the data that used to be on the hard disk is also wiped clean, since the entire space of the hard disk is overwritten. The randomness of this data used to overwrite depends on the algorithm used to generate it. Some hard disk wipe programs give users the choice to select the algorithm they want the program to use. However this is not as necessary for hard disk wipe programs as it is for file shredder programs, which wipe individual files. This is because when it is the entire hard disk that is wiped, the degree of randomness of the overwriting data is not anymore as important.

Performing a hard disk wipe is often as easy as clicking a few buttons in a specially designed hard disk wipe program. Some programs are set to run automatically when a CD containing the program is placed into the computer containing the hard disk to be wiped. This makes it easier to perform batch wipes on many computers at once, and makes the hard disk wipe a feasible security solution for multiple hard disks.

If you are interested in wipe hard disk, check this web-site to learn more about wipe hard disk.

Three Types of Computer Hard Drive Failures

The hard drive is the most crucial part of the computer since all the data is stored in this device. Failure of a hard disk can lead to information loss and this can be fatal for people or companies that store important data in the computer hard disk. Drives crash or fail to work for 5 reasons and this article is going to elaborate on these 3 reasons for computer hard drive failure.

The first and most common reason for computer drive failure is windows not booting. In order to solve this problem, the hard disk will need to be removed, backed up on another system and a new computer hard drive will have to be installed. The technician will add the information from the old hard drive on to the new one if he is asked to do so. If you have adequate technical knowledge then data recovery software can help you recover most of the data on your hard drive.

The second reason for drive failure is viruses or hackers. Since no physical damage has occurred, a simple data recovery can be performed since the data is still present on the drive. Spy ware, mal ware and viruses will have to be removed before the recovery can begin.

The third reason for computer drive failure is a mechanical fault like an electric surge or the physical damage to the drive. This is the most serious type of hard disk failure and if the hard disk has been completely damaged then all the information will be lost. In the case of partial damage or partial over writing of files, a professional data recovery system will be able to get most of the data back but the extent of damage will determine the amount of data that can be restored.

Article written by Jeff Frasco. Visit Computerknowledgeforyou.com for information about computers. The website offers knowledge about Computer Components, Hardware Tips, a Tutorial on How to build Your Own Computer and a shopping section where you can compare prices on Computers and Components. You can compare prices before you buy computer memory, components, accessories, modems and alot more.

Tips How to Stop Error 0xA While Or After Installing Windows XP

Microsoft Windows XP is a popular operating system for personal computers, media centers, notebook computers and workstations. You can install Windows XP as a clean operating system copy or by upgrading from an existing version of Windows like Windows 98 SE. You should always maintain an updated data backup when you upgrade your operating system or opt for a clean reinstall. By using an up-to-date backup, you can restore all lost data post events like Windows XP upgrade failure, partition deletion, accidental/erroneous disk format operation, power failure and more. If you lose data and no valid data backup is available, you can use commercial data recovery software for complete recovery.

Consider a situation, you try to install Windows XP and it fails with an error message as:

"STOP: 0x0000000A (parameter1, parameter2, parameter3, parameter4)
IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL
*** Address x has base at x - filename"

Where, parameter1, parameter2, parameter3 and parameter4 refer to incorrectly referenced address, required IRQL, type of access, and address of instruction referencing memory in parameter1 respectively. You may also get this error message after installing Windows XP. It is specific to Windows XP Professional and Home Edition.

Cause

It occurs when system attempts to touch pageable memory at too high a process IRQL (Interrupt Request Level). It happens in kernel mode due to these reasons:

• Driver utilizes an incorrect memory address
• Incompatible device driver or software
• Hardware issues

Solution

If you encounter the above error while installing Windows XP, you need to follow these steps:

• Make sure that installed hardware components are compatible with Windows XP
• Specify HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer) during installation startup using F5 during the startup of installation
• Try to turn off some features in CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) settings
• Verify RAM
• Try removing adapters and disconnecting hardware devices
• Update drivers
• Go for a clean installation of Windows XP and restore data from backup

If this problem arises after installing Windows XP, use these methods:

• If you have recently installed any third-party hardware or software, try removing or disabling them
• Restore system to Last Known Good Configuration
• Try to repair Windows XP installation
• If Safe Mode is working, use Rollback Driver feature
• If Safe Mode is working, use Windows XP System Restore
• Try renaming problematic software or driver
• Restore Windows using Recovery Console
• Reformat the hard disk and use recent data backup to restore the data.

If after reformatting the hard disk, you discover that backup is not up-to-date or is unable to deliver expected results, you need to choose efficient hard drive recovery utilities to recover all lost data. These hard disk recovery tools are designed to safely scan your drive and recover lost files.

Phoenix Windows data recovery software is the finest data recovery tools. It is equipped with advanced features like RAW Recovery, Drive Imaging, E-Mail Recovery and more. The software supports FAT16, FAT32, vFAT, NTFS, and NTFS5 file systems based Windows partitions

K Madhav is a data recovery expert and doing research on data recovery software and hard drive recovery.

Troubleshooting Computer Problems - How Hardware Failures Can Put Your Small Business at Risk

I can say that in my 18+ years of computing, one of the most frightening things about PCs are hardware failures. Nothing can take the bottom out your stomach as fast as the worrisome "click...click...click" sound of a dying hard drive. Or worst the "dead and ominous silence" coming from a lifeless power supply unit.

Despite all the advertising about how fast and reliable computers can be; the dirty little secret of the computer industry is that hardware failures are both common and expected. It is not a question of "if" your computer system will have a fatal "crash-n-burn" but of "when".

As a small businessperson, whether you are just starting out or a hardened vet of the "store wars", you simply can't afford to have your company crippled due to a hardware meltdown. Every hour you are down due to a computer failure is a lost hour of productivity.

Common Hardware Failures

That is why you should take the time to learn and understand how to prevent or reduce the most common hardware problems. In my experience, the following things cause the bulk of the hardware failures:

1. Under-powered, dead or failing Power Supply Units


2. Over-heating issues (dust bunnies in the equipment and under-ventilated computer boxes)


3. Corrupted or improper device drivers (which is really a software issue)


4. Power surges, lightening strikes, brown-outs and other electrical problems


5. Outdated BIOS (another software issue) or bad motherboard (a definite hardware issue) or an old, overworked hard drive.


6. Other parts: bad RAM, video cards, sound cards, network & modem cards

Not All Acts of Nature

Now some of these failures are "acts of nature" or the power company and you will have little control over them. But most of the above failures occur due to:

• A. Improperly installed parts (someone put in the wrong thing or used a "lemon" part)


• B. Improperly configured parts (bad or corrupt device drivers again)


• C. Damaged or defective parts (broken or dead components)


• D. Poor maintenance (ya didn't do your housekeeping)

A) Improperly installed parts can happen at the factory level, at the local repair shop or from parts coming loose just from the unit being banged around while moving. Sometimes you just get a lemon or an underpowered part that just plain won't work right in your PC. Your best bet is to determine the bad part and to have it replaced.

B) An improperly configured component happens when a device driver goes bad or becomes corrupt. The only thing you can do in this case is to download the latest driver software from the vendor and reinstall it. This is why you need to know where your computer came from or at least where the parts came from. Most reputable vendors keep device drivers available on their websites.

C) Truly dead parts must be replaced with similar or superior quality components. You can easily learn how to do this yourself or take it to your local computer repair place.

D) Good maintenance consists of cleaning out the computer case with canned "air" every six months or so; occasionally wiping down keyboards, mice and monitors with the correct cleaners; making sure the box is setup in a moderately dust-free environment and using the proper size surge-protector to prevent unnecessary power fluctuations.

Action Plan:
Here's what you need to do today:

• Download and run, Belarc Advisor (www.belarc.com/free_download.html). This free little utility will build a detailed profile of all the software and most importantly all the hardware devices installed (by brand/model if known) inside your machine.


• Using the info, you just collected, locate and download all your hardware device drivers. They should be on the Recovery/Restore CDs that came with your machine. If your CDs are lost or misplaced, go online to the computer's manufacturer (Dell, HP, etc.) and download your drivers from their support site.


• Make backup copies to all the device drivers and information you got from the Belarc Advisor.

Just remember that for hardware repair, you really only need to know how to do two things: reinstall something or replace something.

Sick of computer headaches? To learn more fast fixes for your problem PC, visit http://www.fixcomputerproblemsguide.com

From Chancer Reese - Your Small Business Tech-Diva.

How to Protect the Data on Your Laptop

Every year, hundreds of thousands of laptop computers is being stolen. Every passing day we hear a story of a missing laptop with sensitive data on it.

What can average user do to protect the data on his or her laptop?

To begin with, you can buy a lock. Locking cables are used to secure your laptop to a motionless object. A good number of locking cables cost from $20 to $70. You can find more advanced and therefore costly models that come with an audible alarm.

You should register your laptop. If you fill out your laptop’s warranty card, the producer will have a record of ownership. You can also register your notebook with property protection programs.

Your next option is to lock down boot-up. You can set your laptop to ask for a password before loading the operating system. Select a password made up of letters, numbers and symbols.

Seagate hard drives protect data using encryption technology. It makes information useless to anyone who does not have the code. The technology can also erase data on the drive instantly.

Absolute Software of Vancouver, B.C. offers a service called CompuTrace LoJack for Laptops. Stolen laptops, using installed software, quietly report their location to Absolute Software the first time they are connected to the Internet. The company contacts local police cops to coordinate recovery. The service costs $50 a year.

Inspice Trace is a package that offers remote data destruction. It erases irrecoverably the contents of the drive in the event it is stolen. The Inspice Trace software also tracks the location of a stolen laptop.

You should also consider biometric security devices such as fingerprint scanners. They allow only authorized users to use the laptop.

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The Function of Toshiba Laptop Drivers

Toshiba laptop drivers are installed by the manufacturer at the time the laptop is built. Unlike regular a desk top PC, if the hard disk of a laptop gets reformatted or erased, all basic drivers will need to be re installed and the laptop will need to be re programmed. This means you must either install the drivers with a back-up disk or you will have to downloading them and install them along with a new Operating System from the manufacturer's website.

Sometimes device drivers don't work as well as they are meant too. Not all drivers are compatible with all software's. Manufacturers are always improving device drivers just like programmers improve software to try to make them function more smoothly and to rectify possible conflicts. An updated driver can generally prevent erratic behavior in your Operating System.

Drivers like any other software files are self-installing, also called self-executable. Self-executable files are launched by clicking on the file or icon which will install the program. The program normally checks the system first to make sure the new driver is appropriate for the installed hardware. Installation takes seconds or even less but usually a system reboot is required in order to start using the new driver.

One way to check device drivers on a Toshiba laptop that uses Windows as its operating system is to enter the Device Manager.From the Device Manager window point your cursor to a hardware device then right-click on it. Click on Properties, and then click on the Driver tab. It is here that you can see the device driver's name and version number.

To update or upgrade a driver, open the driver properties in the Device Manager and click on "Update Driver". If the driver that is already installed is up to date and the most recent one available, a message will be displayed on your screen indicating that it is up to date. It is imperative to make sure your drivers stay up to date.

One should use the utmost care when updating drivers because if you happen to install the wrong drivers, it then becomes possible for your computers operating system to go berserk. Installing the wrong drivers can cause you to experience one error message after another and in some extreme cases even cause your computer to reboot over and over and even prevent some programs from opening.

In order keep your Operating System up to date which will prevent many common security vulnerabilities, you can turn on the "Automatic Updates". You can also help keep you laptop running smoothly, by checking the Toshiba website to see if any upgraded drivers are available for your model notebook.

So in order to insure that your Toshiba laptop drivers are current and up to date remember to make sure that the hardware drivers that you download also include your hardware device. That way you're guaranteed not to have any problems with them. Also keep in mind that before your new drivers can take affect, you must first reboot your system.

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External Hard Drive Data Recovery - Not So Different

Internal hard drives. External hard drives. Floppies. CDs. DVDs. They are all great for storing data--until they fail. Nothing is certain in life, and there is no certainty that the means by which you have been storing your important data will not become damaged and require data recovery. You may even be the cause of your lost data, by doing some accidental deleting.

If the data which you are trying to retrieve is stored on an external hard drive, however, the recovery process and can range from simple to highly complicated. But external hard drive data recovery, for the most part, is similar to that used for retrieving lost files no matter where they were originally stored.

Doing Your Own External Hard Drive Data Recovery

If your external hard drive is part of a company network, you will have to attach it to a monitoring system so you can track the progress of t the external hard drive data recovery. Any idle desktop computer or workstation will suffice; you just need to make sure someone is watch dogging the process and can intervene if any glitches occur in the retrieval effort. The last thing you want to have happen is for the external hard drive data recovery process to appear to have finished, and then find that it is still malfunctioning and requires a do-over.

Once the external hard drive data recovery process retrieval is finished, the recovered data will need to be tested for functionality. Begin by checking the operational system files, because without them you will not get far. If they check out, you can go ahead and test the informational files like your business invoices, tax records, spread sheets and databases.

If your general business files are in order, you can branch out and see if the external hard drive data recovery has restored the files with which your company’s different departments work. If all those files are up and running, you can rest assured that the external hard drive recovery went as planned, and you can remove the hard drive from the monitoring station and put it back where it normally belongs.

You can accomplish this by checking various operational and data files that are saved on the external drive. Start out with the operations system first, then move on to some of the larger and more important files, such as your invoicing system. From there you can get into other files that are used fairly often by various persons and departments in your company. Once you are assured that the data is intact, accessible, and working properly, you will know that the recovery was successful and you can return the external drive to its usual station.

When Your Effort Fails

If, however, your efforts at an in-house external had drive data recovery fail, the next step is to take or ship the hard drive to a data recovery specialist. The specialist will examine and evaluate the damage your external hard dive and let you know how much it will cost to perform an external hard drive data recovery, and what you can realistically expect to recover. If your company’s management approves the expense, the specialist will proceed with the recovery attempt and return as much of your data as possible.

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