Hardware - September 2006

I'm helping a friend fix an Inspiron 600M which he got used form a relative. Everything seem to be working fine except the optical drive. It does not work at all. Upon opening the DVD drive to put in a disk, it comes right out, with only a data cable attached to the laptop. Is this normal or does he need a new drive? The same type of drive is used on Inspiron 300 M, Inspiron 500 M, Inspiron 8600, Inspiron 9100, Inspiron B130, and Inspiron XP6. Do you have (or had) one of the above and can the drive, under normal use, completely separate from the laptop when you open it to put in a disk?

2006-09-24 07:03:28 · 1 answers · asked by flandargo 5 in Laptops & Notebooks

2006-09-24 06:56:00 · 1 answers · asked by C.Nemo 2 in Laptops & Notebooks

I have a Dell Inspiron 6000. My "1" key fell off of the keyboard and I lost it. It still works, but I'm pressing the sensor thing that is typically underneath the key. How do I go about this? Do I get a whole new keyboard or is there a way to just get that specific key sent to me from Dell? If you could provide a link/phone number and some advice that would be fantastic.

2006-09-24 06:43:48 · 4 answers · asked by follow3875a 1 in Laptops & Notebooks

2006-09-24 06:11:50 · 5 answers · asked by af_blondybabe 1 in Other - Hardware

Basically Windows has infuriated me beyond a point I do not think I will ever come back or recover from. Here's the post about it on my website if you're interested, http://xgatech.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2381

I don't think I could afford a new MacBook Pro but I could certainly swing a refurb. On that front, I have been doing some reading and have discovered some horror stories, one person ended up at the Store 12 times before they fixed it, I'm not that patient.

My question is, have you or do you know anyone that purchased a refurb Mac and did it work well out of the box?

I'm on my way to hating Microsoft throughout my entire soul.

And no, I want nothing to do with Linux... (just FYI)

2006-09-24 06:06:28 · 4 answers · asked by conradj213 7 in Laptops & Notebooks

and every time I print something from a web-site (a template for example), the print always comes out "missing" items on the far right side of the paper, and down near the bottom also. In other words, it's as though I need to change the margin settings or something in order to get the entire document or picture to print out. Hope this makes sense. Not sure how to correct it.

2006-09-24 05:47:49 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Printers

2006-09-24 05:38:15 · 2 answers · asked by twain1275069 1 in Printers

What does this mean and how do I rectify the problem? I have awired keyboard and wired mouse so that can't be the problem.

2006-09-24 04:43:54 · 11 answers · asked by rogue 3 in Desktops

I want to save space by placing my desktop Compaq sideways on a shelf. The shelf is not tall enough to place the cpu in a normal upright position. Will I harm my computer operating it this way?

2006-09-24 04:41:04 · 3 answers · asked by global_capitalist 3 in Desktops

2006-09-24 04:40:42 · 4 answers · asked by John S 2 in Desktops

2006-09-24 04:35:05 · 6 answers · asked by bahman1385 1 in Add-ons

which one? i have both free, currently i have mcaffe but i can switch hto mcaffe if i wanted (comes with verizon, mcaffe comes with comcast).

2006-09-24 04:17:15 · 12 answers · asked by Aazim S 2 in Add-ons

I tried fiddling with the contrast/brightness buttons on the monitor, but nothing helps

What should I do?

2006-09-24 03:53:40 · 2 answers · asked by Bellina 3 in Monitors

I am adding 2 new 300g drives to my computer that I plan on setting up in a stripped raid configuration. There are currently two drives in my computer now and since there is only room for a total of 3 drives, I need to remove one to make room for the other 2. The drive I want to remove is the one with least amount of storage but is also the drive that has all my program files and operating system info on it. So what is the best way to move the info from the small drive to the other drive in my computer and have it boot up and run properly- before I add the two other drives in stripped raid configuration?

2006-09-24 03:44:21 · 7 answers · asked by Rigano 1 in Desktops

The power light is on, they are connected in back of the computer, I have run the troubleshooter with no luck. The computer has been boxed for a week because I moved. All other components are working. What could be the problem?

2006-09-24 03:35:02 · 5 answers · asked by ŧťŠ4 in Desktops

2006-09-24 03:30:20 · 5 answers · asked by arju n 1 in Desktops

2006-09-24 03:23:42 · 10 answers · asked by jim 1 in Other - Hardware

i opened up the hard drive and it was blank everything was gone even the secure and compress folder that was on the hard drive when i got it was gone i only got the damn thing 2 days ago and i put a lot of files on it is there any way of getting the files back?

it a 250gb freecom classic sl external hard drive .
i went into start/my computer then i right clicked and then properties and went into tools and tried the error checking but nothing happens and it wont let me defregment it is there a tool that i can download that will restore everything i have lost

2006-09-24 02:27:07 · 8 answers · asked by danilhastings 4 in Add-ons

has anyone used the above card as i am looking for a lo-cost graphic solution and this one seems to support direct 9,and has pixel and shader model 3.0 my current one is a radeon 9250 which only has p + s model 1.0
is this card any good(nvidia 6200 256mb agp)

2006-09-24 02:22:03 · 3 answers · asked by brianthesnail123 7 in Add-ons

I have one phone line ATT/SBC and would like to avoid unplugging to phone line from DSL directly to fax.. I'm disabled and have many forms that can not be sent via email, (privacy law), and need to respond immediatley.. I don't want a dedicated line... $$$$$
Thank you for your kind help. Thanks Yahoo for this fine site!

2006-09-24 01:41:23 · 1 answers · asked by laughing_is_easy 2 in Printers

my computer's clock does'nt work when my computer is off . when i start it shows the same time at what i shut it last time . i am using a via chipset .

2006-09-24 01:27:47 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Other - Hardware

Why does my printer shoot out empty pages whenever I print something out longer than 10 pages? It's an HP deskjet 3322 printer. Thanks

2006-09-24 01:01:11 · 5 answers · asked by osunumberonefan 5 in Printers

256MB nVidia Geforce 7300LE TurboCache or the 256MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1400 HyperMemory

2006-09-24 00:55:17 · 3 answers · asked by dont_let_the_rabbit_eat_you 1 in Laptops & Notebooks

why are they the way they are...why were we taught to use them with the letters in a bunch of random places...didnt it start like that with typewriters?

2006-09-24 00:54:21 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Other - Hardware

2006-09-24 00:50:25 · 6 answers · asked by Ken T 1 in Desktops

My system is windows xp home, the computer has 80gb HDD and 256 ram, I would like to know how much HDD space I should use to make the computer faster when playing online. I do know that default setting is 1.5 times the ram in the pc - but this is not enough.

2006-09-24 00:36:16 · 13 answers · asked by CrazedPscyhoticKillerBunny 2 in Other - Hardware

2006-09-24 00:20:09 · 1 answers · asked by Fishtalk 4 in Other - Hardware

Does anyone know how i can fix this problem its quite urgent and i need it fixed pronto, i don't know what happened the sound was working fine, on my computer and now it doesn.t play any sounds and it just has this message .

Windows Media Player cannot play the file because there is a problem with your sound device. There might not be a sound device installed on your computer, it might be in use by another program, or it might not be functioning properly.

can anyone help me please :)

2006-09-24 00:14:12 · 9 answers · asked by Izzy king 3 in Laptops & Notebooks

256MB nVidia Geforce 7300LE TurboCache or the 256MB ATI MOBILITY RADEON X1400 HyperMemory

2006-09-23 23:42:49 · 1 answers · asked by dont_let_the_rabbit_eat_you 1 in Laptops & Notebooks

i opened my pc to clear the dust now the tv and radio on my powercinem is not working

2006-09-23 23:41:45 · 1 answers · asked by help meeme 1 in Desktops