Recent content by Nack

The Vostro 220 is a nice little computer. It's sort of like store bought baked beans. Pretty good, and a great place to start, but you need to add some things to make it truly great. Here is what I did with my $369 Vostro 220 w/included 23" Samsung 5ms HD Monitor (a deal from a month or so...

I agree. Look for a deal on a 19" Dell LCD (dell is always running deals). The $600 should cover it during the right sale. Nack

You may get away with dodging the California sales tax for now, but before too long, the Terminator will find you... :P

Windows XP formats the hard drive prior to installation. That has not been a problem. I have also tried formatting it in advance, using quick format, and using regular format. I have searched the Microsoft lack-of-knowledge base extensively. I found a very similar but not identical error...

I have now ruled out media and memory. Any other ideas? Thanks, Nack

Thanks for the suggestion. I don't think it is bad media, but I will try burning a copy just in case. I tried two different genuine microsoft Windows XP Pro CDs (I have Win XP Pro on another computer as well and I still have the media for it). I have also tried two different CD-ROM drives (I...

I am trying to install a new clean copy of Windows XP Pro (clean install, not upgrade) on a Thinkpad A20M with a new hard drive (so there should be no leftovers from old OSes). I updated the bios on the laptop to latest available before installing. When Windows XP gets to the point where it...

Flash the laptop's bios (download diskette bios flash from IBM website) to the latest version before installing the new drive. Often the ability of older laptops to recognize newer (larger) drives is included in the new bios revisions. Nack

I wouldn't say "very" easy, but I have to agree with VBboy on this one. Are you SURE it doesn't have a CMOS battery? I just completely took apart a Thinkpad (for purposes of an upgrade), and found the CMOS battery about 1/4 way into the teardown. Anyone who can build a desktop should be able...

Or, put another way "when will the artificially propped up price of the Radeon 9700 Pro be falling". I have NEVER EVER seen a video card hang at near-release prices this long. I guess that is what a lack of serious competition and a demand that exceeds artifically restricted supply causes. Nack

I really want one of those, but I just can't bring myself to spend more than $200 on a video card, knowing it will be on sale for $149.99 after rebate at Best Buy in 6 months. :P

Ummm, ok. Why did you do that anyway? It is things like this that cause schools and libraries to lock down their computers, so that you can't adjust the settings even if you really need to... This means that you have to spend a minute or two unlocking them, before you can adjust what you want...

A. Check to see if your friend's computer is overclocked. If it is, take it down to default settings/increase cooling, and see if this fixes the problem. B. If not A, check to see if your friend's computer has both 1. a motherboard manufacturered by Epox, AND 2. a power supply manufactured by...

CarpeDeo, How did you get it for only $150? It came up $159 for me, and they charged me another $36 for shipping!

I agree. It is a great little DVD player AFTER you upgrade the firmwares. There are actually TWO firmwares that you need to upgrade. One for the system board, the other for the drive mechanism itself. Once that is done, the skipping stops, and it otherwise works "as advertised". ;) Nack