The Ask anything about computers thread

[yankswn23]

I have seen we have various threads about computer help, what to buy? various terms, differences between MAC and PC, I made this thread for anyone that wants some of us with computer experience to answer some of those who need some advice or help trouble shooting..

Jason

[yankswn23]

See now no one has any questions.. this thread was brillant..

[BronxBaumer]

Good job Jason. All questions answered!

[YankeePride1967]

my keyboard is dirty, would a glass of water help to clean it out?

[YASS]

my keyboard is dirty, would a glass of water help to clean it out?

No, that won't work. Water, by itself, won't do the trick.

I use vinegar mixed with pine tar (about a 90/10 mixture) to clean mine. Just let it soak for a couple of hours, then wring it out and you're good to go.

[4bronxbombers]

So impatient.

[ManilaYankee]

Why is a guy named Mac work for Dell?

[YankeePride1967]

No, that won't work. Water, by itself, won't do the trick.

I use vinegar mixed with pine tar (about a 90/10 mixture) to clean mine. Just let it soak for a couple of hours, then wring it out and you're good to go.

Is there any regulation as to how much of the keyboard can be covered in pine tar?

[Ct.Fan]

ok....I'll bite.... I have a desktop running windows XP (sp2) and it will not boot up. It appears to be a disk problem or maybe it's shot? The message reads: "insert boot media"? Of course the guy who built it for me has disappeared and after working well for several years now it won't boot up. I run a wireless router for the house and it is still working fine connected through this desktop...sending this via my home wireless on my laptop. Easy fixes?

[yanksphan]

Check the BIOS to see which devices are configured as boot devices.

It may have somehow changed to removable media (CD-ROM) and needs to be changed back to the HD with the operating system installed on it.

[yankswn23]

ok....I'll bite.... I have a desktop running windows XP (sp2) and it will not boot up. It appears to be a disk problem or maybe it's shot? The message reads: "insert boot media"? Of course the guy who built it for me has disappeared and after working well for several years now it won't boot up. I run a wireless router for the house and it is still working fine connected through this desktop...sending this via my home wireless on my laptop. Easy fixes?

It sounds like a hard drive failure, or your boot settings changed, is it trying to boot from the CD? Best case would be go into the CMOS settings, it could be ESC, F10, F12 one of those when you start up, there should be somewhere in there an option to check the validility of the HD..as well as an option to see what the boot order is, it should be Cd, then HD then Network or something similar, if the problem is with the Cd drive try using the HD as the first option and see if that works, also try booting from the windows cd that will tell you if the cd drive is an issue..

[yankswn23]

No, that won't work. Water, by itself, won't do the trick.

I use vinegar mixed with pine tar (about a 90/10 mixture) to clean mine. Just let it soak for a couple of hours, then wring it out and you're good to go.

I like using the Cans of air they really seem to get all the dust out but make sure you hold them parallel to the keyboard with the keyboard standing straight up or you can spray freon all over your keyboard..

[Ct.Fan]

It sounds like a hard drive failure, or your boot settings changed, is it trying to boot from the CD? Best case would be go into the CMOS settings, it could be ESC, F10, F12 one of those when you start up, there should be somewhere in there an option to check the validility of the HD..

doesn't appear to trying to boot from the cd......from the settings I looked at? How do I check the validity of the hard drive in CMOS? Thanks!.....I can have a tech take a look at it, but I'm not looking forward to the hassle!

[yankswn23]

doesn't appear to trying to boot from the cd......from the settings I looked at? How do I check the validity of the hard drive in CMOS? Thanks!.....I can have a tech take a look at it, but I'm not looking forward to the hassle!

you have to get to the BIOS setup screen, when you start your computer it will quickly say something like hit f1 to go into setup..

[Ct.Fan]

you have to get to the BIOS setup screen, when you start your computer it will quickly say something like hit f1 to go into setup.

Yes...I've been through the setup...I think I'm screwed. I don't have the windows disk, and it appears to be a hard drive failure. Cha Ching!

[BronxBaumer]

New harddrives are only about 50-100 dollars if you find a good deal. Would you like me to post some links?

[YASS]

Yes...I've been through the setup...I think I'm screwed. I don't have the windows disk, and it appears to be a hard drive failure. Cha Ching!

BronxBaumer is right. New hard drives are cheaper than ever ... but if you don't have the install media to reinstall your OS and all your stuff ... I hate to say it, but you might be screwed.

May I recommend some backup software for next time?

[yankeeschic12324]

How do I disable stuff that starts up when I turn the computer on? I don't need every program to pop up and start when I turn on the computer...

[YASS]

How do I disable stuff that starts up when I turn the computer on? I don't need every program to pop up and start when I turn on the computer...

There are two places to look:

1. Hit the Start button, and then click "Run...". In the dialog box that appears, type "msconfig". That'll bring up the msconfig utility. Click on the "Startup" tab and just disable the startup items you don't want.
2. Also check the "Startup" folder in your start menu. Just delete anything from that folder that you don't want starting up when the computer boots up.

[SalingerNY]

How do I disable stuff that starts up when I turn the computer on?

It just thinks you're sexy. Not much you can do to control that.

[Sam18]

It just thinks you're sexy. Not much you can do to control that.

Acid to the face.

[yankeeschic12324]

It just thinks you're sexy. Not much you can do to control that.

Thats what I figured

[NYYFAN]

Will porn effect my hard drive?

[yankeeschic12324]

There are two places to look:

1. Hit the Start button, and then click "Run...". In the dialog box that appears, type "msconfig". That'll bring up the msconfig utility. Click on the "Startup" tab and just disable the startup items you don't want.
2. Also check the "Startup" folder in your start menu. Just delete anything from that folder that you don't want starting up when the computer boots up.

Thanks!

[SalingerNY]

Will porn effect my hard drive?

Ask Sam.