unbiased,
Tread carefully into the BIOS flashing. Yes, it is not really a big deal but one mistake can screw things royally. To that end, I would recommend that you download (or copy and paste into a document), the exact instructions on how to do this. Then I would ask that you go step by step with those instructions. Do the homework. It is what I always do and I haven't had a problem with this procedure yet. Do not, at any time, get impatient and shut down the system. If you do, you will be screwed. Yes, BIOS flashing is not difficult. It also can shut down your MB if you make a mistake. Oops!
As to your questions: Resetting the BIOS defaults vs clearing CMOS? Not the same. Setting the BIOS to defaults just turns a dial to a different setting. Clearing the CMOS flips a switch. That is the best way I can describe it. Look at it as a dimmer switch vs. an On/Off switch. Resetting the BIOS is a different setting on the dimmer switch. Clearing the CMOS turns the switch off, then on again to reset things. Hopefully that will explain things.
BTW, clearing the CMOS will mean that you have to go through and redo your settings in the BIOS. This would mean your CPU, RAM, PCI, etc. Your system will be running at very basic settings. Your CPU will most likely be running slower than it is rated. If you do not have a good understanding of the BIOS, I would recommend you first go through and write down all your current settings, so that you can at least bring things back to that point. And then, I would recommned that you
this site (if it doesn't take you there, scroll down to the "Free" version), for a comprehensive explanation of what the BIOS settings do. Which brings me to your last question; how to post a link. Ok, there are two basic ways to provide a link in Anandtech. (There may be more but we will deal with those for now) The first is copying and pasting the URL or Address in Internet Explorer into your message. What that involves is first going to the page you want to link to. Then click once in the "Address" bar of IE (which will highlight the entire address). While your cursor is still in the address bar, right click and then select (with a "regular click"), Copy. Now you can go into your message or reply on Anandtech, get to the point where you want to show a link and then Right Click and select Paste. The entire address will appear then. HOWEVER, this is not the desired result as it will just put a line of "stuff" like
http://forums.anandtech.com/message...messid=12575597&STARTPAGE=1&parentid=12575597 Understand that users can then copy and paste that address into their own address bar and get to the page desired. However, that is not the real answer to your question; just an option. To get to the point where you actually provide a link is just as simple. Do the same, Click, Copy as I described above. However, instead of right clicking and pasting it into your message or reply, click on the fourth item (down the line) under "Message Text", which is "http" (with a symbol). Not the "https" (with a symbol), just the singular; http. That will bring up a box that will have "
http://" highlighted. It will say "URL for the link". At this point you can do one of two things. If the last thing you did prior to clicking on this was to copy the URL, you can just click Ctrl-V, which will Paste the URL (address you copied) into the box. Or, you could right click on that highlighted text and select "Paste". That would do ths same. After that, click on the "OK" button. Then you will see the same box with a different question. Instead of "URL for the Link", it will say "Text for the link" and the word Text will be highlighted. From there just type in the name of your link or the wording you wanted to use. Trust me, it sounds a LOT HARDER than it is. Do yourself a favor and open up more than one IE page; one for Anandtech and one for the page you want to link to. That makes things much easier. Do not make the one mistake that we all have at one point or another. Do not click into the box with the highlighted "
http://" more than once and the either type the address or paste it. What you will end up with is (as an example) "
http:// http:// yahoo.com" which will not work. While the text is highlighted, the easy way to do it is click on Ctrl-V or right click-Paste.
And BTW, you have not "bothered me for so long". We have all been there and done this. We've all been in situations where we need knowledge and rely on others to provide it. If I have seemed impatient, forgive me. I will help you as much as I can. I wish you luck!
BTW, you could always enable your PM's (Personal Messages) by going to the Profile Link near the top right side of the page. Some feel more comfortable after a bit going to PM's when asking more questions. I am not suggesting you need to do this, just telling you of an option. I will continue to monitor this thread.
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