Re: Official Computer Questions Thread
 

umm....toshiba is really good...you're not gonna get better from any other brand, they are all made from the same inside parts. if your last one only lasted 14 months, then extended warranty is a must (Best Buy's now also cover Physical damage!)

thats not a bad laptop though...i would upgrade to 2gb on any vista machine though...just runs alot smoother

Re: Official Computer Questions Thread
 

Thanks, my desktop and my wife's notebook are both HP. They look and run well but I probably just had bad luck with the Toshiba.

I'm tempted to buy a more high end refurb --- that's what my desktop was and it was a great deal. It still had a full warranty and extended plan. :D

Thankfully I'm in no hurry.

Re: Official Computer Questions Thread
 

Before you buy a new computer, make sure that the software that you want to use will run on Vista. I don't know for certain, but you may have trouble with the tuning software that you want to run. Personally, I'll stay away from Vista until Service Pack 1 comes out. I have had trouble with it running some of my software and hiccups with some of my hardware.

Dell will still build a PC with Win XP Pro. They often run specials and sell PCs in the price range that you are looking for. I don't care for their customer support anymore, but they still build a good computer.

Re: Official Computer Questions Thread
 

That worked! Thanks!!!!!

Re: Official Computer Questions Thread
 

np.

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Keeping my fingers crossed....so far, so good on my Vista and programs that I use. I bought my new eMachine in April and it has Vista Home (wanted the upgrade but couldn't afford it) and it's ok.....so far.

Re: Official Computer Questions Thread
 

I finally replaced my Notebook. It was kind of a surprise but my wife needed a computer for a trip and hers was in the shop. She used the bonus points or whatever they call them she has been accumulating at Office Depot. She does impact purchases for the hospital she works for so she had a bunch. I had a budget of $800 and I beat that easy. :worship:

It will do the job. Intel dual-core, 14.1 lcd, 160GB HD, DL DVD, card slots, and all the normal stuff. It's a Gateway --- not sure it that matters. Vista Home Premium and everything is a go so far on the software. Fingers crossed.

I just got it on the net and grabbing my mail.

This makes my 7600th post (still recorded and not deleted). :OUCH:

Re: Official Computer Questions Thread
 

You shouldn't require any special utilities for this.

Resize it manually, to the size you want it to be, then hold down shift and click the X to close the window. then the next time it'll open maximized.

Re: Official Computer Questions Thread
 

I am trying to install a LG DVD burner (model GSA-H55L) into my Dell 8200 desktop (approx. 5 yrs old). I've made the physical swap and plugged the new DVD burner in just like the old CD-ROM was installed. I can't get the PC to recognize the new DVD burner however. What do I need to do to make the burner & PC talk? I'm running XP Home if it matters.

Re: Official Computer Questions Thread
 

Several things could matter:

1) Which ide channel are all the hard drives and optical drives on?
2) Which port in the ide cable are the drives connected to?
3) What are the jumpers set to on each of the drives?
4) Does it recognize it as a cd-rom or cd burner only and just not the dvd burner?

Re: Official Computer Questions Thread
 

I'm not sure how to determine answers 1-3. I simply swapped all plugs from the old CD-ROM to the DVD-ROM just as they were. #4-does not recognize it at all. The Best Buy guy said it would be "just plug & play" lol

Re: Official Computer Questions Thread
 

Odds are that the jumper next to the ide cable is not in the right place. What you want to do is make sure that the new drive is set the same as the old drive. Most drives have the jumper map on the top...it may not be the same on both drives. You have a choice of master, slave, or cable select.

Re: Official Computer Questions Thread
 

Okay, I see there is a little jumper on my old CD-ROM. It's on the CSEL spot, so I'll check on the DVD-ROM after church. Thanks!

Re: Official Computer Questions Thread
 

Yeah, CSEL was only supported on some motherboards back in the day. I am still a fan of telling the drives to be either Master or Slave. If you have the IDE cable connected to both your Hard Drive and CD-Rom, it's going to have to be an extremely long cable to get the HD to be Master, up to the CDROM to be a slave and then back down to the motherboard.

For a device to be a master, it has to be plugged in on the end of the cable. Slave goes in on the middle and the naturally the mobo on the other end.

If you have two seperate IDE cables, set the HD and CDROM as master of their own IDE channel, boot up and enter CMOS/BIOS and make sure that they are set in there as such.

Re: Official Computer Questions Thread
 

kinda weird its not recognizing it off of cable select tho.

oh well matt, if it doesnt work, you know where to find me haha

Re: Official Computer Questions Thread
 

The computer uses two IDE cables-one for the hard-drive and one for the CD & CD/RW (new DVD-ROM spot). I set the CD-ROM to master (it's at the end of the IDE cable), the DVD-ROM to slave. This will allow the CD-ROM to show up, however the DVD-ROM still doesn't. I also tried setting the HD to master (originally set to CSEL also) and then the computer wouldn't boot up. Originally both the CD & CD/RW were set to CSEL so I don't understand why that setting wouldn't work on this new DVD-ROM. Any suggestions?

Re: Official Computer Questions Thread
 

So you are running two optical drives and one hard drive?

Should be simple...really.

Set one optical drive to master, one to slave and connect that thing to the IDE2 channel on the motherboard.

Set the HD to Master, OR there is a stand alone setting for many, if not MOST hard drives that are going to be running solo. Usually, it's just the jumper turned sideways to short out the connection. Then, you just connect that mug to the IDE1 channel and you should rock and roll.

What motherboard is it in the Dell 8200? See if you can't get an owners or technical manual off google or something. That would help if you are having issues.

Re: Official Computer Questions Thread
 

So, you have a CD-ROM and a DVD-ROM on the same cable? Have you tried both devices as CSEL? Maybe try setting the DVD-ROM as master and the CD-ROM as slave (make sure that you swap positions...master has to be at the end of the cable). You might also want to check to make sure that the power cable is plugged all the way in...no power=no drive.

Another thing to try is to eliminate the CD-ROM drive...just see if the DVD-ROM is recognized by itself.

Re: Official Computer Questions Thread
 

I figured it out. The DVD-ROM had a black jumper set in the master slot that I didn't notice-it mixed in with the rest of the black plastic. I removed it, put the white Dell jumper in the CSEL slot and it worked perfectly. Yep, a computer noob...:eek: Thanks everyone for the help!

Re: Official Computer Questions Thread
 

well, atleast now you could answer my questions that i had at the beginning of this problem hehe

Re: Official Computer Questions Thread
 

Okay, another question. I'll usually put my PC in standby mode overnight and turn off the cable internet modem. In the past, I'd wake up the PC and turn on the modem and I'd be connected to the internet right away. Recently when I do this, the internet will never connect even after turning the modem back on. To fix this I have to shut down the PC, and then it'll connect to the internet after it reboots. What is causing this?

Re: Official Computer Questions Thread
 

does the network connection show up as connected? it just wont work? if so, its just windows....right click the network connection and click "repair"...it'll release and renew the ip's

dunno why you turn the modem off anyhow lol

Re: Official Computer Questions Thread
 

The network connection does show up as connected and I've attempted to repair, but it doesn't do any good. I always thought someone could hack into my PC with the connection turned on? I've got a firewall, but I was just being cautious.

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as long as your pc isnt set to "wake on lan" (which, if you are sitting there asking what that means, then it isnt) then with ur 'puter asleep or hibernating, it is fine.

Re: Official Computer Questions Thread
 

How do I check this?