All things physical, from the computer to the components to the devices that you attach to it.
Sub-Categories:
"Unable to update region settings" - how do I fix that on my DVD drive?
DVD Region Codes are intended to restrict where a DVD can be played. Computer DVD drives can sometimes alter region codes, but only a few times. (Continue reading...)
Are cheap inkjet cartridges a good deal?
Audio CDs - what format should I use to burn my Audio CDs?
Audio CDs are different from data CDs. Typically your burning software needs to know how to create audio CDs, and you need to explicitly tell it to do so. (Continue reading...)
Can I make my C: partition bigger by taking space from D:?
Hard disks can be divided into multiple partitions, each showing up as a different drive. Changing the layout of partitions requires special tools. (Continue reading...)
Can I move my old computer's hard drive to my new computer?
Can I use a USB RAM stick to increase system memory?
Flash memory is not the same as the type of memory used as your system RAM. They have different characteristics and they're accessed differently. (Continue reading...)
Can I use my TV as a second monitor?
Your TV can often be used as a second monitor, but unless you have a newer digital TV, the results will likely be very disappointing. (Continue reading...)
Can I use my old hard drives with a new motherboard?
When replacing a motherboard you can almost certainly use your hard disks, the question is how much additional work and configuration you might need. (Continue reading...)
Can a USB thumbdrive "wear out"?
While the technology continues to improve, the fact is that flash memory has a limited number of times it can be written to. I can, in fact, wear out. (Continue reading...)
Cyclic Redundancy Check: what is it, and how do I get rid of it on my newly burnt CDs and DVDs?
Cyclic Redundancy Check is an error detection mechanism to make sure that your data has been read properly. If a Cyclic Redundancy Check fails, it could mean several things. (Continue reading...)
Do I need to change any settings when I add memory?
When more memory is added to a computer, most of the system will automatically use it without the need to adjust settings on your machine. (Continue reading...)
Flashing my BIOS failed, how can I recover?
When flashing your BIOS fails, there typically is only one remedy: replace the chip where the BIOS is stored. (Continue reading...)
How can I tell if I have USB 2.0?
USB (Universal Serial Bus) 2.0 is a significantly faster version of USB 1.1. Determining which you have is not at all obvious. But it is fairly easy. (Continue reading...)
How do I defragment my new hard disk?
Defragmenting is a useful bit of maintenance to keep your hard disks speedy. It's not always needed, though. We'll look at when, and how, to defrag. (Continue reading...)
How do I disconnect the touch pad on my laptop?
How do I fix a bad sector on my hard drive?
You should try to fix bad sectors on your hard drive before trashing it. Starting with "chkdsk" may help. (Continue reading...)
How do I get hardware not directly supported by Windows to work?
Windows natively supports a lot of hardware. For hardware not directly or completely supported you'll need to take a couple of additional steps. (Continue reading...)
How do I maximize my battery life?
How do I setup a 'headless' machine?
When setting up a 'headless' machine, you may need to change the BIOS setting to allow it to boot without a keyboard. (Continue reading...)
How do I update the system bios from Windows?
How do I upgrade to USB 2.0?
Older computers may have only the slower USB 1.1 interface. Adding USB 2.0 isn't difficult, but it does require a hardware addition. (Continue reading...)
How should I clean my computer?
A lot of time and thought goes into cleaning your hard disk, applications and so on. But what about the box itself and other attached peripherals? (Continue reading...)
How, and when, should I update drivers?
Drivers are critically important components of your computer, but knowing when and how to update them isn't as easy or as obvious as we might like. (Continue reading...)
I reinstalled Windows and now my sound doesn't work - how do I fix it?
After performing a clean install of Windows it's not uncommon for some devices like sound to no longer work. The solution is fairly easy. (Continue reading...)
I spilled water into my laptop, how do I get it working again?
Spilling liquid into your laptop or keyboard can cause serious damage. The first step is to dry it thoroughly, and we'll look at one possible solution. (Continue reading...)
I'm only getting speeds of 28.8kbs, why won't it go faster?
28.8kbps is a standard speed for dialup modems, But even if your modem is rated at 56kbps, often 28.8kbps is all you'll get. There's one major factor that causes the actual speed to be lower than advertised. (Continue reading...)
Is it safe to install a higher wattage power supply in my computer?
Replacing a power supply is reasonable common solution to some problems. Making sure you have the right wattage power supply is important. And bigger doesn't hurt. (Continue reading...)
Must I reformat if I replace my motherboard?
Reinstalling Windows is often recommended when replacing a motherboard with a different model. But there are scenarios where it may not be needed. (Continue reading...)
My '2' key stopped working. How do get Windows to recognize it again?
Every so often a keyboard stops working or acts up. It's tempting to look everywhere but at the most likely culprit: the keyboard itself. (Continue reading...)
My computer blue screens when I download pictures from my camera- what do I do?
Digital cameras often include software to download pictures. Good or bad, the big secret is that you may not need software to download pictures at all. (Continue reading...)
My computer is turning itself off after about 5 minutes. Why?
A virus scan and checking the cooling fans in a computer are good places to start if your machine shuts itself off frequently. (Continue reading...)
My modem connection has suddenly slowed. What should I check?
There are a few hardware-related things that you can check if your modem connection has suddenly slowed. (Continue reading...)
My mouse is super sensitive and seems to do things on its own. What do I do?
Bizarre actions from your mouse may mean its imminent death, however there are a few less extreme causes of sensitivity and other odd actions. (Continue reading...)
My upgraded computer keeps shutting down - what should I do?
An upgraded computer may shut down because the existing power supply isn't strong enough. Here's why. (Continue reading...)
Replacement hard drive: how can I copy files from a failing drive to its replacement?
Replacing a hard drive is not terribly difficult, but if you're worried about losing data, then perhaps replacing the hard drive isn't all you should do. (Continue reading...)
Safely Remove Hardware: where did the icon go? How do I safely remove hardware without it?
The "Safely Remove Hardware" icon can occasionally disappear. It turns out there's a simple workaround to safely remove hardware anyway. (Continue reading...)
Should I turn my computer off at night?
Depending on your usage, turning your computer off at night might be appropriate. But is it actually saving energy? In the long run, it's hard to say. (Continue reading...)
Should I upgrade my DSL modem?
Upgrading equipment is a common way to get better performance or increased capacity. Upgrading a DSL modem, in and of itself, will likely do neither. (Continue reading...)
What does "check system fan" mean?
Your system fan is an important component of your system. If the fan fails your system could fail or some components could even be damaged. (Continue reading...)
When I insert a CD or DVD into my DVD ROM the computer freezes. What should I do?
There are a few things to check out if your computer freezes when you insert a CD or DVD into your DVD ROM. (Continue reading...)
Why are one manufacturer's processors faster than another - even at the same GHz?
Why can't I add files to my CD-R?
We'll look at why you might not be able to add files to a CD-R. (Continue reading...)
Why can't I get The Sims 2 to work on my machine?
The Sims 2 may not work for a number of reasons, but there are a few things to look into to make sure the game is compatible with your computer. (Continue reading...)
Why do I get 'no dial tone' from my computer even though the phone has a clear dial tone.
If your computer has a clear dial tone but is still showing "no dial tone", check to see if the modem is properly connected to the right places. (Continue reading...)
Why do I get a black screen on my computer after a while?
A black screen on your computer can mean several things. A black screen is most commonly a screen saver, but there are also much worse possibilities. (Continue reading...)
Why do I have to hold down the "Fn" key to get normal letter?
Computer manufacturers use the Fn key to cram even more virtual keys onto smaller laptop keyboards. Sometimes it can get confused. (Continue reading...)
Why do so many tech support solutions start with "reboot" or "turn it off"?
Quite often the first thing a diagnostic technician will ask you to do is reboot your computer. Why? Because rebooting works surprisingly often. (Continue reading...)
Why does my 31 gig drive have only 10gig of space after formatting?
Why does my DSL drop after a few hours?
Sometimes a DSL connection dropping out could be a sign of a faulty telephone wire. (Continue reading...)
Why does my clock reset on every power-on?
When your computer is turned off or unplugged, a small battery keeps the computer's clock running. If that battery runs out, your clock will reset. (Continue reading...)
Why does my computer blue screen?
While there are many reasons your computer could blue screen, there are some things you can look into to help determine the cause. (Continue reading...)
Why does my computer randomly reboot without warning?
Random reboots are annoying because you can easily lose what you're working on at the time. Random reboots are difficult to diagnose, because there are many possible causes. (Continue reading...)
Why does my computer shut down after an hour or two of playing music from my external drive?
A common cause for computers shutting down unexpectedly is overheating. An external drive probably doesn't add heat - but the software drivers might. (Continue reading...)
Why does my screen go black after the Windows screen when I boot?
Why doesn't my CD-ROM work?
If your CD drive makes a grinding sound, you'll need to replace it. Here's why. (Continue reading...)
Why doesn't my keyboard work until Windows is running?
Why don't I have an on-screen volume indicator?
On-screen volume indicators are handy, but surprisingly they're not actually part of Windows. We'll look at alternatives. (Continue reading...)
Why is 640x480 my only resolution option?
Sometimes 640x480 is your only option. We'll look at ways to work with this. (Continue reading...)
Why is my USB device asking for a CD when I attach it?
We'll look at some ideas to try to stop a USB device from asking for a CD. (Continue reading...)
Why is my USB mouse not detected reliably?
USB device detection normally works well, albeit mysteriously. The mouse is a critical Windows component, so if your USB mouse is not detected, an error results. (Continue reading...)
Why is my Windows screen sometimes stretched beyond my monitor's borders?
Usually an issue with the monitor, we'll look at ways to adjust your screen. (Continue reading...)
Why won't Win98 recognize my new hardware?
While Windows 98 itself may to blame, there are a couple reasons why Windows 98 won't recognize new hardware installed on a machine. (Continue reading...)
Why won't my display turn on?
Your display might not turn on if the computer's not working or the display's not working. However there are other possible causes we'll look at also. (Continue reading...)
Why won't my external drives shut down automatically?
Why won't my system recognize my USB device?
We go over some quick fixes to make sure your system recognizes USB devices. (Continue reading...)
Will my backup hard drive stored in my safe survive the heat of a fire?
Backup hard drives are inexpensive and a great way to save important information. Is storing your backup hard drive in your safe adding any protection? (Continue reading...)