Articles and reviews on PC hardware/software, networking, and more!
Hard Drive Data Recovery Techniques
What to do when your hard drive will no longer boot Windows and you need to recover data. As long as the drive still works, you can download a Linux ISO to get started. In this article, it covers ways you can get files off a hard drive without having to reinstall Windows or do anything that might damage your data.
How to Fix a Nintendo Wii Disc Read Error
Imagine the disappointment on a gamer's face when they get ready to play a game on their Nintendo Wii, only to be met with a 'disc read error' after inserting the disc. Fortunately, it's not very common for Wii owners to run into disc read errors, but it does happen. The reasons for such errors are varied, as are the solutions.
How to Spot a Phishing Scam
No matter what the intent, phishing scams pose a huge threat to the intended victim's personal and financial information. The key to preventing yourself from becoming a victim is knowing how to tell if you are being phished.
How to Play iPhone Music in Your Car
Your iPhone has a headphone jack on it for connecting the included pair of earbuds or any other kind of speakers. Did you know that it can be used to play your iPhone music through your car stereo, too?
Unsupported File Type Error in Windows Media Player
If you can't get a video file to play in Windows Media Player because it throws an error saying that it is an unsupported file type, check out this article for information on how to get that video file to play.
What's the Next Big Thing in Computers?
I wrote this article to explain some of the big changes on the way in terms of computers. Check out this article for information on things like SSD (solid state drives) and more.
How to Tell What Generation iPod You Have
Apple has made many different models and generations of the iPod over the years, and this guide will help you tell which one is yours.
Motherboard Problems
PC Support articles: I have written an article on what to do if your motherboard won't recognize your new hard drive and how to fix it. If you just replaced your motherboard and it keeps rebooting, here are some things to try and fix it. If you're upgrading to a new video card, you may want to know how to identify the video card slot.
Cybercrime Trends to Look Out for in 2010
With the economy down and more people looking for money, you better believe that cybercrime is seeing a rise all over the world. Here's a look at some of the scams that are already popping up here in 2010, and how to protect yourself from falling victim.
What's the Best iPhone Battery App?
Here's a look at some of the best battery monitoring apps for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Some of these even work on the new iPad, too. Using these apps can also help you prolong the battery life on your Apple device by knowing when to recharge at the right time.
The Ugly Truth about Website Design
Nowadays, most anyone can throw together a site pretty quickly. While this is nice to stake your claim on the world wide web, the result is that sometimes people get too focused on the less important aspects of their site. Here's a look at what I call the ugly truth about web design.
Flickering in Vista Windows Media Player
If you are experiencing flickering in Windows Vista Media Player 11 while trying to watch a video, there are many possible causes for this problem. Likewise, there is a variety of solutions to try. In this article, I will run down the most common causes for video flickering in Windows Media Player, and offer ways to fix the problem. The issue often just involves a software update, but sometimes hardware deficiencies are to blame.
Laptop vs. Desktop - Which is Better?
A detailed look into the differences between laptop and desktop computers. The purpose is to help you decide which best suits your needs and the pros and cons of each type computer.
When to Remove Older Versions of Java
If you look under add/remove programs, you may see a bunch of older versions of Java. I wrote this article to explain why they remain and to help you decide whether or not to remove them in order to free up hard drive space.
Blackberry WSOD - White Screen of Death
This past weekend, I left my BlackBerry smart phone unattended for about an hour and came back to find it had locked up. The background of the screen had turned white and it was displaying some kind of nondescript error message with some numbers. No matter what I pressed, none of the buttons would respond and I couldn’t get the phone to turn on or off.
Review: HP Photosmart Plus Edition Model B209A
This is an incredible all-in-one printer that also features wireless connectivity. This means you can use it without having a direct connection to any computer. You don’t even have to place it next to a computer. As long as it has power and is within range of your wireless network, you could put this printer most anywhere inside your home or office.
The Ugly Truth about Website Design
Believe it or not, good content is what's most important about building a website. Nobody really cares about logos and backgrounds. This article is for anyone who is getting started with the task of creating a new website.
Apple iPad - How is it Different from the iPhone?
After much speculation and anticipation, Apple finally released their first tablet machine and called it the iPad. While comedians immediately started coming up with jokes about it relating to feminine hygiene products, many tech-loving consumers were left wondering just what the iPad actually does. Is it really just a big iPhone or is it something totally different? Well, it’s a little bit of both.
What are the Effects of Computer Hacking?
The idea of computer hacking typically brings up stereotypical ideas of the nerdy guy sitting behind a computer banging away on the keyboard beside a mountain of empty soda cans and pizza boxes. Movies and TV shows tend to portray hackers as extremely intelligent people with some sort of social anxiety and not much luck with the ladies. While these comic interpretations of the classic ‘nerd’ make for good entertainment, the truth is that computer hackers are criminals who cost people and companies time and money.
Review: Apple iPod Touch 8GB
Apple's iPod Touch is basically just an iPhone without the phone part. It plays music, movies, TV shows, and audiobooks just like a regular iPod, but also lets you use the wide variety of ‘apps' that also work on an iPhone. I won an iPod Touch in a contest on Epinions.com, and prior to that I had been using an iPod Nano for two years. Now that I've had them both to compare for several weeks, I must say that the Nano actually suits my needs better than the Touch.
How to Get Rid of Computer Speaker Static
Having static come through your computer speakers is an annoying thing to deal with, and what’s even more annoying is trying to figure out what’s causing the static. It could be any number of things, from magnetic interference to the cables simply not being plugged in all the way. In this article, I’ll go through what you need to do in order to get rid of computer speaker static.
Watch Netflix on a PS3
PlayStation 3 owners can now watch Netflix movies with their PS3, thanks to a new service from Netflix. You have to be a Netflix subscriber, but there’s no other obligation or extra fee. In this article, I’ll describe how it works, what you need to do, and how well it performs. If you have a PS3 and subscribe to Netflix, you really should get in on this.
Wii vs. Xbox 360 vs PS3 - Which Game Console is Best?
A look into the three main gaming consoles currently on the market and which one I think is best, and why. This comparison looks into the features of each console and the pros and cons of buying one over the other. I think the PS3 is best in terms of overall values, especially now that you can watch Netflix movies online with the PlayStation 3, and at no extra charge.
EVGA NVidia GeForce GTS 250 Gaming Video Card Review
I recently upgraded the video card in my PC from an Nvidia GeForce 8600 GT to a GeForce GTS 250 from EVGA. The performance increase was dramatic, and I am blown away by how much of an improvement this card makes with my games. Just be warned that the card itself is very large and may not fit inside some computers. I barely made it fit in my HP desktop.
Speck PixelSkin - The Best iPod Touch Case
The Speck PixelSkin is simply the best iPod Touch case that I was able to find. It's very strongly made and protects my iPod quite well, plus it is quite affordable at @ $15. When it comes to cases for iPods and iPhones, you really have to shop around because the prices vary greatly between retailers.
The Dreaded Hard Drive Click of Death
If your hard drive is making a clicking noise, it indicates a serious problem that could mean it is about to fail. Back up your data and get ready to buy a new hard drive, or hopefully get a warranty replacement.
How to Make a Sony PS3 Sixaxis Controller Work on Your Windows PC
Did you know that you can make a Sony PlayStation 3 Sixaxis controller work on a Windows PC? All you need is the right drivers and it Sixaxiscan be done. I’m running a Windows Vista Home system and got it working on my machine, and even played a game with it. This article will tell you how to make the PS3 Sixaxis controller work in either Windows XP or Vista.
Who makes Vizio?
Vizio is the number one brand LCD television maker in the country right now, which is pretty good considering they are such a new company. I wondered who actually made Vizio HDTV's, so I did a little research and here's the answer.Hint: They are not made in America.
How to record HDTV on your VCR
You can still use your old VCR to record digital HDTV broadcasts, and all you need is a HDTV converter box and an extra cable. This article will tell you everything you need to know in order to record HDTV with a VCR.
What to do if Regedit closes automatically
If you open RegEdit and it automatically closes by itself, then you most likely have a virus or some kind of malware infecting your PC. RegEdit is being closed by that virus or malware as a way of keeping you from getting rid of it. This article will tell you what to do in that situation.
How to wall mount an HDTV
Proper mounting of your new HDTV is important, otherwise you could damage the television or even your wall. In this article, I go over some things to consider before you start drilling, and what you need to know about wall mounting an HDTV.
How to make the Creative Zen Micro MP3 player work in Windows Vista
This how-to guide explains all you need to do in order to make Windows Vista recognize your Creative Zen Micro MP3 player, as well as how to copy music to the device without Creative's software. If you are having trouble getting your Zen Micro to work in Vista, this article will tell you everything you need to know.
FinallyFast.com - Is it a Scam?
Have you seen those silly late night commercials for a program called Finally Fast? This software supposedly works wonders on your computer, but what they don't tell you about is the overly expensive subscription fees and the fact that most of what it does can be done for free using the tools built right into Windows. The commercial is still fun to watch because it shows people getting BSOD errors on Apple computers.
Beware of Online Work at Home Scams
We've all seen emails and online ads for various 'work at home' type jobs, and it should come as no surprise that most of them are scams. With the current state of the economy and many people looking for any kind of income, these scams have been popping up at an alarming rate.
