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    Using LCD monitor with DTV converter box

    I have an extra Samsung LCD monitor with built-in speakers and VGA and DVI port. I'm wondering if I can use a DTV converter box to watch TV on this monitor. Basically, I'm looking for a VGA to RCA (yellow and/or red, white) adatper. There are many on sale online but they're designed for...
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    Command, utility to view services in Windows

    Anyone knows a good utility or a command in DOS prompt to view more information about a service used in Windows? I ran msconfig and it tells service name but I need to know what files that service uses and location of those files. Thanks.
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    Bigger HDs run hotter?

    I'm using mobile racks for several PATA IDE drives I have here. One is an old IBM 7200RPM 2MB cache, the other, a Seagate 160GB 7200RPM 8MB cache. Within 5-10 min w/o using, temperature as reported by the mobile rack's LCD is around 35C on the IBM, while the Seagate would show little over 40C...
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    Any good HD partition & cloning software?

    Please recommend one. I need one that can boot from CD and let me delete, creat resize and make image of partition or entire hard disk. So far I've been using Partition Magice for partitioning but the software is old. Norton didn't put out any version since v8. I've used Ghost, Apricorn EZ Gig...
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    Windows Vista & 4GB memory

    I installed Vista Ultimate, then updated to SP1. Right after logging in, My Computer / Properties shows 4GB. I know it can only use 3.1GB anyway. Hitting Control Alt Del to bring up Task Manager and in Performance, I see only about 900MB free. It says total in MB: 306x, Cached 15xx Without any...
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    Remove uninstall backups of updates in XP

    I've noticed there are lots of hidden folders with $ in the Windows folder. These store backups of updates so you can uninstall. If my system running fine, can I remove them? If I do, how can I remove reference to these in Control Panel/Add Remove Prog and will Automatic Update knows what...
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    Windows Media Player WMP 10 upgrade

    Okay, I've been using the old WMP ver 9 with my XP Pro. After validating my copy, they allow a download to upgrade to ver 10 which come with XP Media Center only. Is it worth the upgrade? Also, I've notice, sometiems when I play an mp3 file downloaded from the internet, my WMP would change the...
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    Vista and XP dual boot

    I have a Lenovo w/ Vista Busines installed but it's so loaded with trialware so I plan to wipe it out and use my own CD. I also want to put on XP. The HD is 200GB so should be big enough. My question is which OS should I install first. Also, if you have a 3000N Lenovo series, which software is...
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    Copying/cloning hard drive

    Just wondering if it's possible to completely copy a 100GB laptop hard drive to a smaller one (so I don't have to reinstall everything)? I have one slow laptop w/ a 100GB but only use like 20GB on it. I'd like to copy data into a smaller drive like 80GB so I can save the 100GB for a faster...
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    Wireless bridging or linking

    I have a Netgear v8 which connects directly to the modem. I want to use a 2nd router, a Linksys to link to it so I can connect by wire to this router or wirelessly to basically extend the range. I did some research and the Linksys can support WDS if I flash it with a 3rd party firmware but it...
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    Swapping hard drives

    I need some suggestions in swapping hard drives of two laptops. First one has a 100GB. This one is slower so not many programs installed. Second one has only 80GB on it but I'm planning to put lots of programs on it because it's faster with more RAM. Both drives are SATA so they should fit. What...
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    Dot Net Framework question

    If I have ver 1.1 on which I think it came w/ Office XP, when I put on 2.0, should I remove it or I can have multiple versions on my laptop? A new app I'm installing need ver 2.0 I read somewhere that apps requires the dot net framework will need to have exact version of it. It takes up space so...
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    Software to check hard drive's s/n

    Is there any software to check s/n of a HD inside an enclosure. I can see model # in Windows but I want to see the s/n to check if warranty is valid for the drive alone. There's warrant for the whole enclosure but I don't want to open it yet. If anyone knows of one, plz let me know. Thanks.
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    Removing Win XP SP1 backup

    When I first isntalled XP on my laptop, it was w/ SP1 only. So I updated to SP2 but it kept a backup of the SP1 in Add/Remove Program in Control Panel so I can revert back. That backup takes up like 400MB. I don't need to keep that so can I just remove it? I've found there's a hiddent folder...
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    KVM Switch

    Anyone knows if there's any advantage using one over the other? I need to switch between my 3 PCs and planning to get one. The USB has less cable because it only uses one for both keyboard & mouse but w/ many ext devices being USB these days, would it slow things down?? One advantage I can see...
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    Hard drive w/ 8MB cache

    Well, I have an old comp with an 80G IBM HD, 7200RPM but only 2MB cache. I just found out I have another WD HD, same size also at 7200RPM but with 8MB cache. So my question is: Will it make a difference in performance if I upgrade or clone the drive? Or it doesn't worth it? Thanks all.
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    Is Windows XP Home same as Pro?

    I'm ordering a Dell laptop and wondering if XP Home is really the same as Pro. Someone told me it has same features but MS disabled in its installation files and if you know you can enable it back, re-burn the CD and get XP Pro. Also, is XP Media Center like Home or Pro in term of built-in...
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    Printers with both parallel & USB

    I got a Samsung w/ both parallel and USB. The ML-1740 and I wonder if I can connect both cables, one to each comp and print from either one. Will it auto detect which comp is printing or I can only use one type of connection? I don't know since I don't have a parallel cable here to try so just...
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    Dual core Centrino Laptop

    I'm wondering if current applications, like MS Office, Photoshop, DVD burning apps, etc can take advantage of Intel dual core CPUs? I'm looking to get a dual core, 1.6Ghz, 1GB RAM, built-in video from Dell. I already have their Inspiron 6000 1.66Ghz, 2GB RAM, 128MB ATI video. The RAM runs at...
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    SATA or IDE USB Enclosure.

    I'm wondering if there's any advantage by using a SATA enclosure over an IDE one if both are connected via USB? It seems to me PATA drives are already fast, muc more than enough for USB and they're cheaper. I'm choosing to buy between 2 models. Of course the SATA one has the option to connect...
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    Allocation unit size when formattting.

    When you format an USB drive in Windows using Disk Manager, it asks for allocation unite size. Should I jus pick the defaut setting or there's any particular size that will work better? My hard drive is 250G. Thanks.
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    Are all USB cables the same?

    I'm not talking about the type of cable but transfer rate. Some USB cables I see are labelled as "usb 2.0 compliant" while some aren't. It doesn't even say 2.0 on it. Some are "gold-plated" while some have just metal color connectors. I'm asking because I just bought a few Belkin USB cables from...
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    Laptop HD question

    I just bought an 80G to replace my old 60G from my Inspiron 6000. Taking a look at the HD, I see 3 partitions, 55M FAT (EISA Configuration) 52G (NTFS) and 3.77G FAT32 I can delete the later 2 but not the first. I know I can use WD utility to wipe them all out but what's that first partition and...
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    Western Digital WD800VE laptop hard drive makes noise!!

    It makes clicking noise once in a while like in every 20-30sec. I found an updated firmware at WD: Here I ran the file. It updated the f/w okay but the noise is still there. It's getting annoying. I think it's related to some power management setting of my laptops. Anyway to stop it? I...
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    Average temp for P3 CPU?

    I still have a Pentium III 1Ghz socket 370. I just put some Arctic Silver 5 on it with a dual fan heatsink. The heatsink has a small aluminum foil glue to it. I took that off but not sure if I was supposed to. Temperature now at idle after bootup in room temperature, 70-75 degree, is around...
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    Linksys Router

    Hello everyone, I'm just wondering if it's worth to upgrade to the WRT54GS. Will it give me longer range or I also have to change all my wireless adapters to "SpeedBooster" equivalent models? I'm using ver 3 of the WRT54G and it can be upgraded w/ third party firmware. If I do, will it boost the...
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    Motherboard installation

    Those paper washers you often get with your case, should I put them on top of the MB or underneath, between the MB and the standup screws? Or it should be between the standup screws and the case? I'm not sure what purpose are they for but I think they're supposed to stop the mobo from expanding...
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    Wireless routers bridging or range extending??

    Okay I have this very general question I want to know if it's possible. I'm currently using a Linksys router ver 3. It's hook to my DSL modem and to my comp by wire in living room. I've update firmware on it to ver 4.0.7 I remember. The signal in my bedroom is low. Can I use the Belkin or the...
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    Update router firmware

    I have a Linksys router and they have an updated firmware. I want to update it but also want to save the current one in case the new one doesn't work well. I don't see any option to save it in their web interface. Normally, can you flash your router back to the older version or it's more like a...
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    Dell Inspiron 6000 resolution

    I just formatted my Inspiron 6000. I re-installed the ATI x300 driver but couldn't find any driver for the display. Right now it say "Default monitor" for Monitor when you right-click on desktop, properties, settings, advanced, monitor. Also, there's no color profile listed for "Default...
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    Re-install or Upgrade XP on Dell laptop?

    Hi, I got a Dell notebook that came with XP Home pre-install. I have my XP Pro copy. Is it better to format the HD and do a clean install of XP Pro? If so, do I have to reload all those Dell drivers and apps? Or is it better to just upgrade it by running setup inside Windows? Thanks.
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    Need suggestions on P4 system

    I'm looking for a good MB and P4 CPU (3.0Ghz or above) and RAM. Can anyone recommend a good combination, especially the motherboard? I was looking at the Asus P4C800 but I believe it's "old" nowadays since they have newer socket for Intel CPUs.
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    Windows 98SE & more than 512MB

    Okay I have this little old problem. One of my PCs is still a P3 866Mhz. It had 2x256MB PC133. I tried to put in 2 more sticks to make it 1GB. Same kind of RAM and it keeps rebooting after showing the Windows logo for few seconds. I tried all the RAM stick combinations and slots. I'm sure none...
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    Cloning a RAID array

    Hi everyone, I have an old dual P3 1Ghz Supermicro board and 2GB of RAM. It has built-in Promise RAID, their FastTrak100. I'm planning to set up RAID 0 on 2 80GB HDs, put OS on it and clone to a 160GB HD in a mobile rack in case something goes wrong, I can just use Ghost to restore. Is it...
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    Overclocking P4. How?

    I'm just curious how people overclock their P4. If they use PC3200 which is DDR400 and runs at 400Mhz I think then how do they compute or come up with their overclocked CPU speed? Most of the time, the motherboard sets the speed for CPU which is the default it's designed for. Sorry if this is a...
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    Memory questions for P4

    Sorry if this question is too basic. I haven't kept track of technology related to P4 for a long time. I'm still using P3 and they work fine so no need to upgrade. I just want to know how the memory speed is matched up with CPUs. I see most P4 CPU support 800Mhz FSB and people use PC3200 at...
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    Case modding question?

    Just wondering what tools I need to use to cut out those fan grills? My case is made of steel about 0.8mm and the fan grill blocks too much air and makes noises. Is it easy to do this?