Hardware - September 2007

i'm considering wether i should buy a used mac..the owner emailed me back, after i asked what was wrong with it (since it was so cheap) ..is what hes saying even right and is it the real scenerio? does this even sound right to you or what?

p.s i can fix pc's and never bothered with a mac but is this just a boot disc fix? the added cmos replacement makes me wonder..

"Yes the Mac is still available. It had sat unused for a pretty long time, so we bought a new CMOS battery for it and turned it on. The intro "music" plays, but then it just shuts itself off. We were told to buy or have another Mac user create some sort of a boot/repair disc, but we haven't been able to get anyone to look at it for us and have just lost interest in it."

2007-09-23 10:09:59 · 5 answers · asked by firefly 2 in Desktops

I have computer that is slower than Christmas. I was wondering what I could do to make it faster? I can get on the internet but, its slow any help would be appreciated.

2007-09-23 09:59:11 · 6 answers · asked by John 3 in Desktops

I have always had windows microsoft, but recently my computer has been acting slow, and its really virus-prone. i have decided to get a new home computer (not laptop; i already have one). i am a freshman in college with a few roommates. i left my computer in our living room/dining room (lol typical college life) for my friends to use. however, within one year of owning my brand new store bought computer, my computer has become full of memory, user accounts, pictures, and well....viruses. so i am giving it to my kid brother. now....what should i buy? should i follow the ipod craze and buy an Apple or stick with what i know and love?? also, i HATE vista. and im not sure if they still make XP. thanks, Katie

2007-09-23 09:48:32 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Desktops

I was at bestbuy yesterday and i seen the geforce 8500 GT 512mb video card for only $86.00, it read to be an awsome card for that cheap price so i bought because i need a new card, and this one even plays direct x10... but when i opened it it looks like a piece of cheap crap! even my girl friend sais thats it looks like junk! ha! anyway before i use it i want to research this a little because if it really is crap i can still bring it back and buy something eles which of course will cost 4 times the price.... OUCH...

2007-09-23 09:42:45 · 6 answers · asked by brussels152 1 in Add-ons

I'm trying to install a TV tuner on my PC and it's not working. Everything is installed correctly regarding hardware and software but when I check the device drivers on my PC I get an error message that says: "Windows cannot start this hardware device because its configuration information (in the registry) is incomplete or damaged. (Code 19)"
Is there anything I can do to fix this?

2007-09-23 09:25:02 · 1 answers · asked by Ms. Rosa 2 in Add-ons

What is the best notebook/laptop out there. I am looking to have a custom laptop that will last me more than 1-2 years. Serious answers only please. If this helps; I will not use it for playing video games just storing and printing some photos, power point and microsoft word. Basically for business use and teaching, thanks.

2007-09-23 09:22:32 · 7 answers · asked by psychologist430 2 in Laptops & Notebooks

its a dell dual core pent 4

2007-09-23 08:52:33 · 7 answers · asked by ziggey_uk 1 in Other - Hardware

2007-09-23 08:42:32 · 2 answers · asked by mnug13 1 in Add-ons

Hi I have about $450-$525 canadian to buy a graphics card
I prefer nvidia geforce cards
does it have to be SLI ready and should i get 1 that has more than 512 mb ??
please respond soon

2007-09-23 08:18:45 · 4 answers · asked by derek r 1 in Add-ons

2007-09-23 08:05:59 · 30 answers · asked by D 7 in Desktops

When I power on my computer I get this: Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corruupt:
\system32\hal.dll.
Please re-install a copy of the above file. WTF is this? I have tried using the system restore dvd but to no avail. When I can actually get it to boot to the restore I get a message that says ( not worded exactly) we could not continue restoration because the size of the hard drive could not be acquired. WTF is that about? Please help! This kinda has sentimental value to me. Is my restore disc ruined? Is my hard drive fried? Please any suggestions would help. I am not very computer savy and I am a broke *** college student, so I can not really afford to have a shop fix it. Help!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-09-23 07:05:40 · 4 answers · asked by buzz b 2 in Laptops & Notebooks

do i have to flip the disk over or does it write top and bottom. what kind of software is needed to burn. i have nero.

2007-09-23 06:55:25 · 1 answers · asked by ronnyb 1 in Add-ons

2007-09-23 06:53:13 · 2 answers · asked by ANGELA R 1 in Printers

I just bought the LCD cleaning kit and a big bottle of compressed air. I need most help for instuctions on cleaning the tower. I KNOW its very dusty in there. Help please :D

2007-09-23 06:44:12 · 12 answers · asked by [I ♥ R.Hamilton] 2 in Desktops

It's a ViewSonic VX2235wm 22-inch. The line appeared at random, then vanished at random. Did this thrice. Then it was there to stay. Then, I read somewhere about "tapping the bezel"; I did that near where the blue line is, and it vanished. Now:

1. Is it an LCD, graphics card (GeForce4 MX 440), or connector (VGA) problem?
2. Will service repair it - because it goes on and off? Suppose it's off when they inspect it?
3. Why did tapping on the bezel work?
4. I ran those screen generators (you probably know about these if you've read thus far). Then,
4.a I tapped the bezel *after* I'd run the screen generators. Did the screen generators make a difference?
4.b The software helped tremendously in improving the picture, though the monitor is only 2 weeks old. So what's up? Is my monitor bad? Do people run these videos often to keep their LCDs in good shape?

Please answer as many of the above as you can - I'll offer you a pizza with all the toppings *if* you can come over to my place!

2007-09-23 06:30:54 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Monitors

2007-09-23 06:02:07 · 3 answers · asked by miko 2 in Other - Hardware

2007-09-23 05:57:35 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Printers

Is there a cable i can buy that hooks from my computer to my tv? and it willl show what on my computer.

2007-09-23 05:06:50 · 5 answers · asked by slickssw 2 in Desktops

I have an old computer which I don't really use anymore, it has 2 harddrives; one with all the main windows information on it (A) and one with a bunch of documents and a few games installed on it (B).

What I would like to do is format harddrive B while keeping all the data on A intact. I want to unplug A and leave it so I can go back to windows later if I want. I would like to format B and then use that as my main harddrive so that I could then install Ubuntu Linux on that and then use Ubuntu as my main OS.

The computer is currently running windows xp professional but I do not have any install disks because the computer used to be someone elses and they gave it to me. so I don't have the right CD's for it.

I hope I have explained what I wish to do clearly enough; if you need me to clarify then feel free to ask, I shall provide information the best I can.

Thank you

2007-09-23 05:01:54 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Desktops

2007-09-23 04:18:23 · 3 answers · asked by madman82894 2 in Printers

connect our camera and download pictures. This last Christmas, I also started using it to upload songs onto my IPOD, and my kids have been using it since then for their MP3 players as well. 5 months ago, I was given a new Kodak digital, and started downloading those pics also. Last month, I brought home 2 memory sticks from work- one is a Memorex Traveldrive, and the other is a Staples Relay drive. At first, the Relay drive worked, but now when I try to use either of those in the ports, it shuts the computer down with no error message. Can someone please tell me why this is happening? Our computer is about 3 years old.

2007-09-23 04:13:36 · 3 answers · asked by JJ S 2 in Desktops

Used to be Intel - Then AMD took the lead - I heard Intel are back on top..

2007-09-23 04:08:26 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Desktops

I just ran the CPUID program to find out that my RAM is running at 166 MHz. Isn't this a little slow? I thought they ran at 400- 533 MHz. I was looking for the speed so I know what new RAM to buy. I think I should get PC 2700 according to what my computer can take. Can anyone enlighten me as to why it is running so slow or what it means?

2007-09-23 03:55:09 · 2 answers · asked by BigCheapSk8 3 in Desktops

2007-09-23 03:45:04 · 1 answers · asked by jamal a 1 in Add-ons

im buying a dell inspirion 531, and the graphics options are Integrated nVidia GeForce 6150 LE graphics AND 256mb nVidia GeForce 8600GT graphics card. I would have picked the deticated graphics but that costs £99.88 extra.

Should i pick the dedicated graphics or pick the integrated graphics and pick up a decent graphics card on ebay for £35 ?

2007-09-23 03:29:58 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Add-ons

if i disconnect tower will i cause more problems?

2007-09-23 03:13:08 · 2 answers · asked by gwen 2 in Other - Hardware

I have a 3 year old dell dimension 4600 pc with xp home edition and a gateway pc with win 98.
I want to install a router to connect both PCs. I currently use a cable modem on the dell pc.
The dell pc with the cable modem are used in the basement and I want to put the old pc upstairs. I will be using a
Linksys WRT54G Wireless-G Broadband Router.
The old pc only has usb ports. My computer skills are pretty limited, how do I make these connections? Thanks

2007-09-23 03:12:16 · 2 answers · asked by tpjp19 2 in Other - Hardware

Well I just reformatted my laptop,and now I can't play games cause my drivers are out of date. I don't know what my graphic card is >.< The laptop is HP Pavilion dv1000. If anyone can help me I would appreciate it.

2007-09-23 03:05:05 · 1 answers · asked by Jake L 1 in Laptops & Notebooks

I see other questions similar to this in this forum. The consensus is to right click My Compter and pick properties. This does not help me however. It states 2.40 GHz. I need to know what type of RAM to get my computer. I have narrowed it down to either 400 MHz or 533 MHz. It is a Dell Dimension 4550. Even the Dell website can not nail it down for me. I think I need DDR 266 PC 2700 RAM, but another option is DDR 333 PC 2700. Please help.

2007-09-23 02:41:07 · 4 answers · asked by BigCheapSk8 3 in Desktops

has the medal honor series in it all ready...

2007-09-23 02:07:27 · 1 answers · asked by ? 7 in Desktops