2 quick questions Is there a better method of checking a HDD than using scandisk or is scandisk enough? Which programs are good for running a system check, such as memory testing? Thanks, Michael Culley

POP, ZZZZZZT, SPARK and a tiny puff of smoke out the back of the PS and it was gone. It's a Sparkle, ATX, 250 Watt, a bit over 6 years old. Circumstances: kill switch turned off, hard drive being replaced. I've done this many times, about twenty times on this computer alone (for tests...

I am trying to install a new SATA hard drive into my system. It's a Maxtor 250Gb, SATA drive. Model 6B25OSO. I currently have a Maxtor 120Gb, PATA drive (as my master boot drive) along with three other IDE drives (two CD/DVD and an LS120 drive). My system does not appear to recognise my new...

Hi my computer freezes everytime i reboot it. I usually end up rebooting my computer at least 2-3 times before it works. My only conclusion to this is that my computer is overheating. I can definitely say that it feels hot, but i'm not sure what would be hot Any help would be Very Much...

Hi Everybody, I have recently built a new computer. I installed along with it a 420watt Enermax Power supply. It's great, but I have one complaint about it. It really gives out a bad "hot smell". I figured out, that the case was designed for a PII not a P4 3.0GHz. As the CPU was running around...

A buddy of mine wants me to help him assemble a new machine for him. He has a limited budget ($500.00 US), doesn't need a CD ROM or monitor. Below is my selection of some decent (cheap) components that I have selected. POWMAX CP769PL-2 Beige Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case w/ 400 watt...

I have a computer which floppy drive works fine on other computers, but it doesn't work on this particular one. The problem comes from my computer, the floppy drive port has been damaged, and doesn't accept any floppy drive. Is there another way to use the floppy drive on this...

Hi, I've just done something terribly stupid: Doing a bios update on an Imperial G motherboard I actually selected the wrong bios, the HP-Version rather than the Imperial one. Now the computer halts at boot with "A disk error occured". How can I get the old or even the right one back in? Bios is...

Hi everybody. This problem is driving me nuts. Please help me if you can. Recently I had loads of problems with my comp freezing up all the time. Finally I decided to format and reinstall. Anyway, during a full NTFS format, at about 38% the computer crashes and I get a bluescreen. The stop...

Hi, Any expert advise for buying a good MOBO+CPU bundle under $200 to play games, Play DVD, and Video Edititing/ Buring home DVDs from VHS cam corders etc. I prefer to get a good AGP8X or PCI Express Video card and a 5.1 Audio Card, so it need not to be inbuit in the mobo. Thanks in advance

They have a 6 hour sale starting at 8 am and the usual week long one. I think some people are camping out for the systems they have in their ads some Amd 64 system for 699 or 599. I think it may be that HP/Compaq is aggressively pushing sales --- they had sales at Office Depot too. Ive read that...

does nero dvd burner support dual layer burner thanks in advance

I am building a new system. I wanted to install a cooling fan and ordered one from buy.com. It is an 80 mm fan but comes with tiny installation screwes. The mounting holes in the fan and in the chasis are far too big for the tiny screws supplied. How can I install the fan. I live ina remote area...

i've got a Dell desktop running XP Pro and all of a sudden yesterday, it just started randomly freezing up. I can't Ctrl Alt Delete out of it either. In order to get out of the freeze, I have to unplug the tower and then replug it in and reboot. it will run fine for a period of time, sometimes a...

more often then not my POST screen does not detect my processor but device managaer does, I know this isn't that big of a problem but I was wondering what causes it.

I want to buy a new PC. I've almost given up trying to fix my last one. Can someone recommend which I should go for: AMD2600 (=A3210), Celeron 2.66 (=A3250) or P4 2.9 (=A3345)? Each of the above costs slightly more than its previous in the list, starting with the AMD.

I have a very frustrating problem, in that it is very intermittent. I can start the PC but within 5 to 10 minutes usually, the monitor will turn itself off (the on off button will go amber....of flash...according to the type of monitor) I have tried three monitors on the system and it has happened...

Is static electricity always accompanied by an audible (even if slightly) spark (arc)? I guess what I am asking is if I ground myself each time before I touch the computer innards, can I be sure I have eliminated static electricity because I don't hear or feel anything? IOW, can static...

I need a kvm switch and cable setup for two computers. I don't wish to spend a great deal, but I do want something that is reliable with no "gotcha's". TIA

I'm getting a new DVD burner (LiteOn, duel layer) in my new system I'm building (haven't ordered parts yet, just been researching). My question is, what is the best brands of DVD+ media? I've had good luck with KHypermedia & Memorex (& in the old days, Verbatim) in the CD-R world, but never tried...