Hardware and Software FAQ

[The_Techie]

MyBroadband's Hardware and Software FAQ​

Where can I update my drivers?
For motherboards, check out:
Asus
Gigabyte
MSI
Foxconn

For graphics cards, have a look at:
NVIDIA
ATI

For sound cards, see:
Creative
Asus (includes SupremeFX and Realtek Integrated Audio)

What is the correct procedure for installing new/uninstalling old drivers?
Start by removing the currently installed drivers. Head over to Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs. After the drivers have been uninstalled, reboot the computer. Once the computer has been rebooted, install the new drivers and reboot if necessary.

After installing my new drivers, I'm having problems. What do I do?
Uninstall the drivers from Safe Mode. To do this, press F8 before the Windows logo appears and select Safe Mode from the list. Head over to Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs and uninstall the driver from there. Once done, restart the computer and reinstall an older, trouble-free version of the drivers.

I'm getting IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL errors. What is wrong?
Most probably a driver conflict. Uninstall the most recent driver installed.

I'm getting BSODs, even on a clean install of Windows. What's wrong?
Make sure your RAM isn't faulty. Run Memtest86+ to confirm.

I'm getting all kinds of graphical anomalies in-game. What's wrong?
This is usually caused by an overheating graphics card. Make sure the card is within acceptable temperature levels by running RivaTuner.

My games are running slowly, even though I have a decent PC. What's wrong?
a) Install the latest drivers for your motherboard and graphics card.
b) Disable any programs running in the background, such as anti-virus scanners.
c) Check for overheating

Is anti-virus software really necessary?
Yes. Even if you only use your PC for general home usage, you'll probably need anti-virus software. If you are connected to the internet, you definitely need one.

How do I keep my computer from becoming infected by a virus/spyware?
a) Update Windows
b) Install a good anti-virus/anti-spyware package
c) Use common sense, don't just open any email attachment that happens to show up (as an example)

Do you have any recommendations for a good, free anti-virus program?
Have a look at AVG Free, Avast! Home and Panda (evaluation only). There are numerous threads about this on this forum.

And which paid anti-virus product should I use?
NOD32 is highly recommended, but definitely have a look at BitDefender, Kaspersky and AVG Professional.

Any good anti-spyware software?
I recommend Spybot Search & Destroy or AVG Anti-Spyware. Also have a look at Ad-Aware.

I'm building a new PC, how big should it's power supply be?
For a normal home PC which only runs games occasionally, a 300W-400W PSU should be fine. For a medium to high-end PC which runs games frequently, I'd recommend 450W-550W. For an ultra high-end gaming PC, 600W+.

Should I get a 32-bit or 64-bit operating system?
Unless you've got 4GB or more RAM it might be less hassle to stick to a 32-bit version, unless you've got drivers for all your hardware in which case you might as well install a 64-bit version.

My computer is overheating, what should I do?
Improving the ventilation by adding a few extra fans to the PC is usually the easiest way of lessening overheating problems. If your CPU is overheating you might want to remove the heatsink and fan, wipe off the thermal paste, apply new paste and reattach the heatsink and fan. If that doesn't help you might want to invest in some aftermarket cooling. A can of compressed air can also be used to remove dust from your computer, which might lessen the overheating.

What's the difference between IDE and SATA?
IDE is an older technology which uses a 40-pin ribbon cable to connect the hardware to your motherboard. SATA uses a thin serial cable to connect the hardware, usually hard drives, to your motherboard. IDE is marginally slower than SATA according to some benchmarks.

My PC is losing time, what should I do?
Replace the CMOS battery.

How do I clear the BIOS settings?
Either enable the CLR_CMOS (might be labeled differently) jumper on your motherboard, or unplug your PC and remove the CMOS battery for a few minutes.

But what does the CMOS battery even look like?
Like this:

Should I use Internet Explorer?
No. Use Mozilla Firefox or Opera instead.

I'm connecting to my wireless router via WiFi. Should I enable encryption?
Definitely. Enable WPA2-PSK and use a long, secure password. You can enable encryption by browsing to http://your-router's-ip and editing the wireless security settings (or similar) page.

Which applications should I use to monitor my computer's temperatures/Which applications should I use to benchmark my computer?
carderne was kind enough to create a thread about that already.

The big question: Windows XP or Windows Vista?
There is no real easy answer to this. The usual answer given is that if you have the capable hardware and you need DirectX 10 desperately then there is no reason to not use Windows Vista.

How do I find the exact specifications and details about my PC?
Download and run a brilliant utility called System Information for Windows which will give you everything you need and more

Is there any way for me to update my Windows without being connected to the internet?
Windows Updates can be downloaded using Windows Catalog. If you don't want to use Windows Catalog, use AutoPatcher instead.

My computer won't play this video file. What's wrong?
You need codecs. The one I use is called the K-Lite Codec Pack which includes a bunch of codecs. You might also want to try VLC Media Player which features a host of codecs built-in.

I want to sell my old computer hardware. Where do I post?
Here. Please don't post threads advertising your hardware.

Which graphics card should I buy?
The one with the best performance within your budget. Have a look at the charts featured at Tom's Hardware to get a good idea of how each graphics card performs.

I need a product key, do you know anyone or any site where I might get it from?
No. This site does not promote piracy. Asking for "warez" might result in a ban.

Which online shops should I buy from?
The list of online shops is endless, but here are some of the more popular ones among the forumites:
PC International
The Prophecy Shop
Take2
Sybaritic
Digital Addiction (owned by eitai2001, one of our forumites.)

Which download manager should I use within Firefox?
I personally use DownThemAll! but Flashgot seems to be another popular program.

Do you have any Windows Vista tweaks I should try to speed it up/improve my Windows Vista experience?
antowan was kind enough to create a thread about that already.

Is there a program I can use to sort out my corrupt hard drive?
Yes, have a look at SpinRite (highly recommended).

Do you have any firewall recommendations?
Have a look at Comodo and ZoneAlarm.

Which bootable CDs would you recommend?
Some of the more popular ones are Ultimate Boot CD, BartPE and Hiren's Boot CD.

I have 2 ADSL accounts. Can I use one for local traffic and one for international traffic at the same time?
Yes you can. Have a look at Routesentry, as discussed here.

 

[The_Techie]

What temperature should my CPU be?
Anything under 60°C (when under heavy load) is considered by many to be fine.

Do you have a list of the best graphics cards for my specific budget?
It just so happens that hj2k_x has made this great thread especially for that purpose.

I'm using Mozilla Firefox, what are some of the recommended add-ons to use?
I have found the following to be quite useful:
Adblock Plus, which goes without saying really This add-on blocks advertisements on websites according to specific lists, and also allows you to add to them.
Adblock Plus: Element Hiding Helper, which allows you to hide specific elements on a website (great for the advertisements that get past Adblock Plus.
Flashblock, which blocks flash objects.
Download Statusbar, never be annoyed by Firefox's Download tab again.
DownThemAll!, a great download manager.
BugMeNot, which allows you to bypass registration on some sites such as YouTube by logging in with global usernames and passwords.
Greasemonkey, a user script manager which is especially useful on MyADSL when ignoring someone (have a look here)
IETab, which enables you to use the embedded Internet Explorer engine within Firefox.
NoScript, which can be used to stop malicious scripts from executing on a web page
PDF Download, which allows you to choose what to do with a PDF file: download it, view it with an external viewer or view it as HTML.
Torbutton, which provides a button to easily enable or disable the browser's use of Tor.
Tab Scope, which lets you preview and navigate a webpage through a pop-up.
PicLens, which "instantly transforms your browser into a full-screen 3D experience for viewing images across the web".
FoxyTunes, which "lets you control almost any media player and find lyrics, covers, videos, bios and much more with a click right from your browser".
ForecastFox, which allows you to "get international weather forecasts from AccuWeather.com, and display it in any toolbar or statusbar".

For the paranoid among us:
Distrust, eliminates trails your browser leaves behind.
TabRenamizer, which allows you to rename the tabs in your browser.

And the Pimp-My-Firefox award goes to:
Tab Effect, which adds effects when you change tabs (requires DirectX 8 or higher)

Do you have any information/tips regarding Virtual Machines?
Have a look at The_Librarian's thread where you can find information, tips and suggestions regarding Virtual Machines.

List of online vendors continued
Landmark Computers

My computer won't boot after I've added more RAM. What's wrong?
Some motherboards have problems when all four RAM slots are completely filled, see if removing one of the RAM modules temporarily solves the problem.

Do you have any links for free software?
Have a look at Garyvdh's thread as well as mercurial's thread.

I'm interested in learning how to use Linux. Which Linux operating system should I use?
I personally like Ubuntu, but definitely have a look at ronald911's thread.

Is anybody using Windows Vista with Service Pack 1? Where can I get it?
Local links are provided in Piesang's thread.

I'm planning on overclocking my CPU and need some aftermarket cooling? Which one should I buy?
There are a lot of coolers to choose from, such as the Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme or the Zalman CNPS9700L. Have a look at The Prophecy Shop's array of CPU cooling options as a starting point.

Are there any recommended instant messaging programs?
If you have a Gmail account you can chat to your contacts (including MXit contacts) using Google Talk, or you can use Skype, AIM, Windows Live Messenger or Pidgin (highly recommended).

Which version of Norton is better?
For the love of all that is holy, don't use Norton There are plenty of better, free alternatives

I want to connect remotely to one of my computers and interact with the desktop itself. What do I have to do?
First of all, choose the software that you wish to use to connect to the computer itself. One of my favorites is TightVNC. Next, because we use dynamic IP addresses in South Africa, you might want to use a service such as DynDNS or No-IP to assign a hostname to your dynamic IP address. Then find out which ports need to be opened on your router's firewall. The kind folks at PortForward.com will guide you on how to do that step-by-step. If this fails, you might want to put the computer in the DMZ. Lastly, configure the software you're using (I recommend using a strong password) and attempt to connect to your computer.

My hard drive just crashed, what should I do?
If something went wrong whilst repartitioning the hard drive, you should not attempt to recover data, but rather send it in to data recovery specialists if you do not have a proper backup set, and the data is deemed critical. If the data is not critical, and there's a backup set, then by all means try data recovery methods (accidental partitioning or formatting only) - a hard drive crash means switching off the hard drive and not to switch it on again under any circumstances because every time you start up a crashed hard drive chances for successful data recovery is getting very slim.

What does a graphics card look like if you take off the heatsink and fan?
This is a photo of an NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT with the heatsink and fan removed:

The black square in the middle with the word "NVIDIA" printed on it is the GPU core, while the 8 smaller rectangles are the RAM chips at 64MB each. Don't try this at home unless you've (successfully) done it before.

I think it's time that I defrag/optimize my hard drive. Do you have any recommended software to do so?
Jkdefrag is a great piece of software when it comes to optimizing/defragging a hard drive. Go to this link and download the Jkdefrag zip file. Extract it on a folder where you'd like to keep it, then download the GUI from this site. Extract those files in the same folder you extracted Jkdefrag and open the GUI file. When the GUI file opens for the first time it will download the required applications it needs to function correctly. You can set the options in the GUI to create shortcuts to it, schedule a task to let it run once a week and so on. Great application, much better and way faster than any other commercial software out there, I used it on two Windows Vista based PCs, on the first it reclaimed about 5GB of free space, on the second, it reclaimed about 10-15GB free space. Definitely worth checking out.

What software should I use to monitor what gets accessed on my computer by an application, or which programs run when my computer starts up?
Have a look at Process Monitor, highly recommended.

Which archive program should I use?
I personally use ZipGenius, but there are plenty to choose from, including WinZip and WinRAR.

How do I overclock my CPU?
Have a look at carderne's thread, which contains a links to this page on how to overclock an Intel CPU and this page on how to overclock an AMD CPU.

 

[The_Techie]

I want to install Ubuntu (or OpenSuSE 10.3 or any Linux derivative) on a Windows PC with the intention to use dual-boot to switch between Windows and Linux on bootup. Any tips?
Before you begin do the following :

1. Defragment your Windows partition completely.
2. Make sure files and folders compression is disabled.
3. Make sure you've got the space for the Linux partition. The Linux partitioner will ask you what percentage of the hard drive you want to use, you can make it 50/50 to start off with.

My suggestion before you do this is to make sure you've got a large enough hard drive to hold both your Windows and Linux operating systems. Also make sure you've got a good, proper backup of all your critical and important data before starting the resize process as things can go horribly wrong.

I'm dual-booting Windows XP and Windows Vista. How do I remove Windows Vista without messing up my Windows XP install?
Have a look at this guide.

I encounter an error (STOP: 0x0000007b) when I try to install Windows. What's wrong?
Make sure your SATA config is set to IDE if you don't intend on using RAID.

General tips regarding overheating issues:
CPU temperatures between 25°C - 65°C is normal. Even though it can hover around 75°C for short times, try to avoid temperatures about 75°C. This applies to GPU temperatures as well.
If you consistently get high temperature readings, then you'll need to clean your heat sink, check the CPU fan for faults, and check chassis ventilation.
If fan noise is an issue with you, you can always install a 120x120 fan (instead of an 80x80), and run it at a slower speed so you get the same amount of air displacement as with an 80x80, but at a lower noise level.
Overclocking a CPU puts higher thermal stress on it, so you'll need an aftermarket cooler and fan with a higher rating. Don't try to be cheapskate and get a piddly, cheap thing, it won't last for long and it won't work as well as the more expensive stuff.
Improving airflow can be done by tidying up cables and the such, and using SATA instead of IDE. (IDE's got broader cables than SATA).
Check your fans on a regular basis.
A humming sound from any fan indicates that said fan will need replacement soon.
Don't sandwich hard disks together, rather place them staggered so that there is a good airflow between them. Hard disks do tend to get hot, and a hot hard disk is not good news.

Where can I find out about Windows XP Service Pack 3?
Have a look at Robin Hood's thread. Local links are provided there as well. Browser's thread seems to have the RTM version included as well.

Do you know where I can find free, open-source software?
Have a look at Andrewc's thread.

Due to load shedding, I have to buy a generator. Which one should I buy?
There was an extensive discussion about this in defsoul's thread.

I've tried all of the suggestions you mentioned above, but my games still won't run smoothly on my computer. What's wrong?
Check whether your onboard LAN or onboard audio is working properly. When either of these are damaged (usually because of a power surge) they can adversely affect performance.

Are there any alternatives to Microsoft Office?
The most popular is OpenOffice, a great free Office suite. It is like a free version of Microsoft Office 2003 with plenty of extra features.

Can you provide me with a step-by-step walkthrough of how to enable encryption on my wireless LAN? I want to enable MAC address filtering as well.
The first thing you'll have to do is to get all of the MAC addresses of the computers that you want to connect to the wireless LAN (WLAN). You can do this by doing the following: Start -> Run -> cmd (or just type "Command Prompt" at the start menu if you are using Windows Vista). Next, type "ipconfig /all" (without the quotation marks) and take note of the information displayed next to "Physical Address" underneath your wireless adapter's name. This is the MAC address, and should look something like this: 00-1A-2B-53-BC-00. Once you have all of the required MAC addresses, you will need to physically connect one of the computers to the router by using a network cable. After you have done this, open your browser of choice and type "http://your-router's-ip" (without the quotation marks), you should be able to find the IP address in the router's manual. Enter the username and password needed to access the router, which you should also find in the manual. Navigate to a screen that says "Wireless Security Settings" or similar. Enable MAC address filtering by clicking the appropriate button/selecting the appropriate box and enter each computer's MAC address into the input fields. Choose WPA2-PSK from the list of encryption options and enter your password into the input field (preferably a long password with a mixture of numbers, symbols and letters). Apply the settings and allow the router to do a soft reboot. After this has been done, attempt to connect to the WLAN.

Which piece of (preferably free) software would you recommend to monitor network usage on my computer?
I personally use Yahoo Widgets and the Network Interface Statistics Monitor Widget. Both are free, and you can view your daily uploads/downloads with the Network Interface Statistics Monitor Widget, as well as an HTML report of daily network usage since the date of installation. I have uploaded a sample picture of this widget here. Another option is NetLimiter.

I'm looking to install Windows Vista. How much RAM does it need for a smooth experience?
When planning on installing Windows Vista, make sure that you computer has an absolute minimum of 1GB RAM, with 2GB of RAM or more being recommended for a smoother experience.

What's the difference between single channel and dual channel?
When RAM is used in single channel, the bus width between the RAM and the CPU is 64 bits wide. With dual channel, this is doubled to 128 bits, which usually results in improved performance. However, it is unlikely whether you'd pick up the performance increase during normal usage of your computer if you only use it for work.

How do I tell the different PCI-Express slots apart from each other? And which types of cards will work in which type of slot?
PCI-Express x1 cards will work in PCI-Express x4 slots, but you can't force an x4 card into an x1 slot for obvious reasons.
This picture will help you to discern between the various types of PCI-Express slots:

From top to bottom :

PCI-Express x4
PCI-Express x16
PCI-Express x1
PCI-Express x16
Normal PCI

I'm getting tired of using Windows Media Player to listen to my music. Which free audio players do you recommend?
My personal favorite is WinAmp, but foobar2000 also comes highly recommended.

I want to use one of my old PCs as a NAS (Network Attached Storage). Which operating system must I use?
My favorite is FreeNAS. It'll run on just about any computer and has features such as FTP, RSYNC and CIFS.

I've had enough of my ISP's email service. Are there any alternatives?
Definitely check out Gmail, best of all: it's free! You can set it up to work with Outlook/Thunderbird/your preferred mail client and it even boasts support for IMAP, plus it has some of the best spam filters around

But how do I set up my mail client to access my Gmail account?
Have a look at the guide provided here.

I'm scared that someone will steal my data, so I want to encrypt it. Which software would you recommend?
I use TrueCrypt, which is a very powerful free encryption program which supports many encryption algorithms. It can even be installed to a USB flash drive.

The computer I use at work/university won't allow me to install Firefox on it. How can I get around this?
Install Firefox Portable 2.0.0.13 or Firefox Portable 3 Beta 5 to a USB flash drive. You can even install most of the add-ons without any problems.

Where can I get more portable applications?
Have a look at the Portable Apps website.

Where can I find good hardware at bargain prices?
Have a look at this thread.

How do I add hyperlinks with custom titles?
Here is an example:

[URL=www.google.co.za]Google[/URL]

 

[The_Techie]

Why does my computer only show about 3GBs of my 4GB (or more) RAM?
You are running a 32-bit operating system, which cannot address all 4GB because the RAM between 3GB and 4GB is allocated to system components. For a very detailed and easy to understand answer to this question, read this article.

Do you know of any handy Mozilla Firefox shortcuts?
There are a lot of shortcuts listed on this page.

And what about some handy Mozilla Firefox tweaks?
There are some nice tweaks mentioned on this page, but use it conservatively.

Will my PCI-e graphics card work in my old computer that only has an AGP slot?
No it won't, no matter how hard you try. You will have to either buy an AGP graphics card or buy a motherboard that supports PCI-e. Don't do what this guy did:

How can I make my passwords more secure?
This is quite a handy, easy to remember tip for passwords.

How can I use Google more effectively?
There are 7 handy tips for using Google on this page.

What speed should my RAM be for it to run at a 1:1 ratio with my FSB (Front Side Bus)?
DDR-400 for a 1:1 ratio on an 800MHz FSB
DDR2-533 for a 1:1 ratio on a 1,066MHz FSB
DDR2-667 for a 1:1 ratio on a 1,333MHz FSB
DDR2-800 for a 1:1 ratio on a 1,600MHz FSB

Do you have any handy tips for Windows XP?
Have a look at this thread.

I'm looking at upgrading my graphics card. How much extra power does it consume, so that I know whether I need a bigger power supply or not?
Here are some power requirement estimates as found in this thread:

ATI Multiple Card

Card...................................Wattage ...............+12V Amperage
HD 3870X2 Crossfire.................750W .........................60A
HD 3870 Crossfire....................550W .........................42A
HD 3850 Crossfire....................550W .........................42A
HD 2900XT Crossfire................750W .........................60A
HD 2900GT Crossfire................550W .........................40A
HD 2600XT Crossfire................550W .........................30A
X1950 - All Models Crossfire......550W .........................38A
X1900GT Crossfire...................550W .........................38A
X1800 - All Models Crossfire......550W .........................38A


ATI Single Card

Card...................................Wattage ...............+12V Amperage
HD 3870X2.............................550W .........................34A
HD 3870................................450W .........................26A
HD 3850................................450W .........................26A
HD 2900XT............................550W .........................34A
HD 2900GT............................450W .........................30A
HD 2600XT............................400W .........................22A
HD 2600Pro...........................400W .........................20A
HD 2400Pro...........................300W .........................18A
X1950 - All Models..................450W .........................30A
X1900GT...............................400W .........................25A
X1900 CF Edition....................450W .........................30A
AIW X1900............................450W .........................30A
X1800 - All Models..................450W .........................30A
X1650 - All Models..................350W .........................20A
X1300 - All Models..................350W .........................18A


nVidia Multiple Card

Card...................................Wattage ...............+12V Amperage
7600GS SLI............................400W .........................20A
7600GT SLI............................400W .........................24A
7800GT SLI............................450W .........................26A
7900GS SLI............................500W .........................28A
7950GT SLI............................500W .........................28A
7800GTX SLI..........................500W .........................34A
8500GT SLI............................400W .........................22A
8600GT SLI............................400W .........................22A
8600GTS SLI..........................450W .........................24A
8800GTS SLI..........................650W .........................52A
8800GT SLI............................600W .........................48A
8800GTX SLI..........................700W .........................56A
8800Ultra SLI.........................750W .........................60A
9600GT SLI............................450W .........................28A


nVidia Single Card

Card...................................Wattage ...............+12V Amperage
6200LE..................................250W .........................18A
7100GS.................................250W .........................18A
7300GS.................................300W .........................18A
7300LE..................................350W .........................18A
7300GT.................................350W .........................18A
7600GS.................................350W .........................18A
7600GT.................................350W .........................18A
7800GS.................................350W .........................20A
7800GT.................................350W .........................20A
7900GS.................................350W .........................20A
7950GT.................................350W .........................22A
7800GTX...............................400W .........................26A
8400GS.................................300W .........................20A
8500GT.................................300W .........................18A
8600GT.................................300W .........................20A
8600GTS...............................350W .........................18A
8800GTS...............................400W .........................28A
8800GS.................................450W .........................30A
8800GT.................................400W .........................26A
8800GTX...............................450W .........................30A
8800Ultra..............................500W .........................34A
9600GT.................................400W .........................26A
9800GX2...............................580W .........................40A

Do you have any info/experience regarding the Asus EEE PC?
For anything regarding the Asus EEE PC click here.

Why won't my Windows XP Service Pack 3 install?
The 5 most common reasons why it fails to install properly is listed here.

I can't get Routesentry to authenticate through my router. What should I do?
Have a look at the suggestion offered in this thread.

How do I upload to UUNet?
gdiza has created a very detailed thread out this here.

Are there any alternatives to Adobe Reader?
Yes there is. I highly recommend Foxit Reader.

I want to format my Windows installation. How do I save the updates that my Windows XP/Windows Vista has downloaded and installed?
Save the files in the C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download folder somewhere safe, and install every update saved in that folder after the format.

OMG DUDE WTF I HVE TIS CASE FOR ONLY R999999 BUY IT!!!!111
Yes, this is spam. Please use the "Report Post" functionality if it was posted on this forum. A bit of comic relief, since I know this wall of text can become boring:

 

[The_Techie]

Which download manager should I use if I do not intend to use Firefox?
Free Download Manager comes highly recommended by the forumites.

But how do I use Free Download Manager and the browser of my choice?
For Opera, download and install OGet. For Firefox, download and install FlashGot.

Should I only buy motherboards that support PCI-e 2.0?
Not yet. All PCI-e 2.0 cards are backwards compatible and most don't even come close to saturating the PCI-e 1.1 bus' bandwidth.

My Windows XP installation disc doesn't detect my Serial ATA hard drive. What should I do?
Your best bet would be to integrate/slipstream Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Windows XP Service Pack 3 by using nLite. This usually allows Windows XP to detect your Serial ATA hard drive. There is also a local link to nLite hosted on the UUNet FTP servers.

Can you give my the password to access the Rectron pricelist?
No. However, there was a dedicated thread created about this here.

Which program should I use for FTP purposes?
I'd recommend FileZilla. There is a local link for FileZilla hosted on the UUNet FTP servers (you can use your web browser to access it).

I have a DDR2-533/DDR2-667 module installed in my computer. Can I add a DDR2-800 module as well?
Yes you can, the DDR2-800 module will automatically run at the speed of the slowest RAM module installed in the system.

Can I install a DDR RAM module into a motherboard that only supports DDR2?
No you cannot, the RAM will not physically fit.

How do I set up dual monitors?
Connect both monitors to the graphics card while the computer is switched off. Once the computer is on and the operating system is loaded, a message should appear from the driver that your graphics card uses, prompting you for input about how the monitors are to be set up. If you only want one monitor to be used, choose the "Only use one display (Single)" option. If you want a carbon copy of what is happening on the main monitor to appear on the second monitor, choose the "The same on both displays (Clone)" option. If you want your desktop to be spanned horizontally or vertically across the monitors, choose the "As one large horizontal desktop (Horizontal span)" or "As one large vertical desktop (Vertical span)" options respectively. If, however, you want to use your primary monitor for most of the activities with the taskbar only displayed there whilst being able to drag and drop applications to the secondary monitor, choose the "Configured independently from each other (Dualview)" option.

Which free dictionary/thesaurus would you recommend?
I personally use WordWeb.

My hard drive is making clicking noises, what should I do?
That is a sign of a failing hard drive. Backup all of the important data stored on that drive immediately!

I have a friend who wants to sell me his old hard drive. Should I buy it?
No, never buy a second-hand hard drive.

How can I surf the internet anonymously?
I recommend that you install Tor.

I've been dualbooting Windows Vista and Windows XP for some time. How do I allow my computer to boot from a third hard drive which also a different Windows operating system?
You'll need to edit the boot.ini file. Have a look at this thread.

Which version of Windows Vista should I buy?
This page should have you to decide which version of Windows Vista is right for you.

I've never built a computer before, how do you do it?
There are plenty of guides on the internet, such as this one (part 1), this one (part 2) and finally this one.

I've lost my Windows XP password. What should I do?
In the event that you forget the password for your own system, there are a few things you can try:
a) Try logging in with the Administrator account. At the Windows login screen, hit Ctrl+Alt+Del twice, type the username "Administrator" and attempt to log in with a blank password. If this is successful, you can easily reset your user account's password by right-clicking on (My) Computer -> Manage -> Local Users and Groups -> Users and then right-clicking on your username and selecting "Set password".
b) Use a bootable CD/DVD. There are many to choose from, such as Knoppix STD or BartPE. These bootable CDs usually include some form of software to reset the password. I recommend using BartPE and integrating Sala's Password Renew. Also have a look here.

But I need my original password, I can't reset it because I've used EFS. What now?
If your password is between 1 and 14 characters in length, Windows uses an LM hash to authenticate your password. These are vulnerable (and shouldn't be used). If you are able to log in with another user account (such as the Administrator account) you can use software to obtain and decrypt the LM hash. Unfortunately, I am not going to give you links to such software

But what if I can't log in with another user account?
Then you'll have to use one of the bootable CDs/DVDs to obtain the hashes and use Rainbow Tables. Rainbow Tables are, in a nutshell, every hash combination of every password possible. As such, Rainbow Tables are quite large and take some time to compute. There are many sites, such as Plain-Text, which will use their Rainbow Tables to compute the password from the hash (not the illicit substance) that you supply.

I'm running Windows XP and I really want Windows Vista-style gadgets. What should I do?
Download Yahoo! Widgets. They have thousands of widgets (gadgets) to choose from. Best of all, it's free.

I've installed some of the add-ons for Firefox that you've recommended, but how do I get rid of them?

a) Click on "Tools"

b) Click on "Add-ons"

c) Click once on the add-on that you wish to disable, then click on the "Disable" button.

d) That's it, you're done. You can now exit the add-ons menu.

And if I wish to get rid of them instead of just disabling them?
Follow steps a) and b) outlined above, then do the following:

c) Click on the "Uninstall" button

d) You should receive a confirmation message similar to the one above. Click "Uninstall" to continue or "Cancel" to abort the uninstall.

e) That's it, you're done. You can now exit the add-ons menu.

Can I change the location of the "My Documents" folder? Or does it have to be on the C:\ drive?
Yes you can change it. First, make sure that the Start Menu displays a link to My Documents by doing the following (if it already shows it when you click on the Start button, you can skip these steps):
a) Click on the Start button
b) Right-click on the Start Menu
c) Select "Properties"
d) Click on the "Customize" button
e) Click on the "Advanced" tab
f) Scroll down until you see My Documents, and make sure that the "Display as a link" option is enabled.

Now you can get round to changing the location:
a) Click on the Start button
b) Right-click on the My Documents link
c) Select "Properties"
d) In the "Target" tab, click on the "Move" button
e) Select the folder where you wish My Documents to be moved to
f) Click Apply, Yes (at the confirmation dialog that appears) then OK. That's it, you're done..

Why doesn't my operating system detect my 160GB hard drive as 160GB in size?
Hard drive manufacturers define a gigabyte as 1,000,000,000 bytes. A computer, since it uses binary, sees a Gibibyte (Giga Binary Byte) as 1,073,741,824 bytes. See this page for more information.

 

[The_Techie]

I have bought an LCD monitor. At which resolution should it run at?
It is preferable to run your LCD monitor at it's native resolution, which is usually the highest resolution offered by the LCD monitor.

But what should I do if my computer cannot run games at the LCD monitor's native resolution?
You can run the games at a lower resolution. If you enable scaling, then the image is stretched until it fills the entire screen. However, this usually does not look that good. A better option is to disable scaling, which you can do in the control centre of your graphics card's drivers.

This is an example of how to disable scaling with the NVIDIA Control Centre.

How do I change my computer's keyboard layout?
Follow the steps outlined in this article.

Which keyboard layout is the most common?
Either English (US) or English (UK).

I'm having trouble with Mozilla Firefox randomly crashing. What's wrong?
Start Mozilla Firefox in Safe Mode. If it doesn't crash while in Safe Mode, then it's likely that one of your add-ons is causing the crashes. Enable each add-on one at a time until you find the culprit.

My computer doesn't complete it's shutdown cycle. What's wrong?
If your computer shuts down successfully in safe mode, then it's probably a rogue driver.

Why should I buy the "retail" version of an operating system?
Well, if you buy an OEM edition then it will be "married" to your hardware configuration when you activate it (usually your motherboard). So what this means is that if you replace the motherboard or another major component then you have to buy another copy of the operating system. But you can probably get away with calling them and telling them that your motherboard died... You can carry the retail license (if you bought the retail version) between different PCs as long as it's not installed on two PCs at the same time.

How can I tell which Service Pack I have installed on Windows XP?
Right-click on My Computer -> Properties. You should see a screen similar to this one:

How does the performance of a computer running Windows XP with Service Pack 2 compare to that of a computer running Windows XP with Service Pack 3?
The comparison is finally here! Every test was run three times and the average posted here. Here is my Windows XP with Service Pack 2 benchmarks, which will be used as a benchmark:

[B]Windows XP x86 with Service Pack 2, DirectX 9.0c and NVIDIA Forceware 169.21[/B]
System setup:
Intel Q6600 at 2,400MHz per core
2GB (2 x 1GB) Corsair XMS2 DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 in dual channel
Asus Striker Extreme
NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT 512MB at 600MHz core and 1,800MHz memory speed.
Samsung 226BW 22" LCD with a native 1680x1050 resolution.

Average FPS achieved at maximum detail and, unless otherwise
stated, a 1680x1050 resolution with 4xMSAA and 16xAF:
Company of Heroes: 80FPS
Counter-Strike Source: 241FPS
FEAR: 83FPS (1280x960 resolution)
Half-Life 2 Lost Coast: 132FPS
Supreme Commander: 38FPS
World in Conflict: 32FPS

[B]Windows XP x86 with Service Pack 3, DirectX 9.0c and NVIDIA Forceware 169.21[/B]
System setup:
Intel Q6600 at 2,400MHz per core
2GB (2 x 1GB) Corsair XMS2 DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 in dual channel
Asus Striker Extreme
NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT 512MB at 600MHz core and 1,800MHz memory speed.
Samsung 226BW 22" LCD with a native 1680x1050 resolution.

Average FPS achieved at maximum detail and, unless otherwise
stated, a 1680x1050 resolution with 4xMSAA and 16xAF:
Company of Heroes: 86FPS
Counter-Strike Source: 244FPS
FEAR: 88FPS (1280x960 resolution)
Half-Life 2 Lost Coast: 130FPS
Supreme Commander: 38FPS
World in Conflict: 32FPS

So that is a performance increase in 3 games, a performance decrease in 1 game and no change whatsoever in 2 games.

Should I download Windows XP Service Pack 3's stand-alone installer?
If you are updating multiple computers, then yes. Otherwise it might be more advisable to download the smaller update via Windows Update.

I have an LCD screen, but the bottom/sides of the display are slightly lighter than the rest of the display. What gives?
This is called backlight bleed and a small amount of discoloration is normal.

Why should I change my current file system from FAT32 to NTFS?
One of the biggest reasons to change it is the removal of the 4GB file size limit. To convert, go to the Command Prompt and type "convert drive-letter: /fs:ntfs", substituting drive-letter for, you guessed it, the drive letter.

Where can I download Windows XP Service Pack 3 from Microsoft's website? Is it the final release?
Yes it is, you can download it here.

I want to buy an LCD monitor with a 5000:1 contrast ratio? Is it any good?
That figure is called a "Dynamic Contrast Ratio" and is, for all intents and purposes, useless. Rather have a look at the "true" contrast ratio, which should be a lot lower.

After Windows XP Service Pack 3 is installed, my computer downloads new updates but the install fails. What's wrong?
A solution is offered in this thread.

I have a boss who is keeping tabs on how long I have firefox.exe or iexplore.exe open. Is there any way for me to still be able to view web pages without him knowing?
Yes there is, have a look at the steps outlined in this thread. Alternatively, just open Windows Explorer and type the URL in the address bar. That way it'll use the explorer.exe process, which is always open by default. Note that this will not bypass a company's filters/proxy/firewall.

Do you know of any handy shortcuts for Windows/Linux?
mercurial was kind enough to make a thread about this already, which also includes some Mozilla Firefox shortcuts.

My motherboard supports DDR2-800. Can I buy faster/slower RAM or does it have to be DDR2-800?
You can buy faster and slower RAM. If you buy slower RAM (such as DDR2-667), the RAM just trudges along at it's usual speed, while if you buy the faster RAM (say DDR2-1066) it will automatically run at DDR2-800 speed.

Wait, does this mean I can install DDR-400 in my motherboard which supports DDR2-800 and it'll just run at 400MHz?
No, the physical difference between DDR and DDR2 will still prevent you from installing DDR RAM modules in a DDR2 slot. This only applies to RAM of the same architecture.

How do I keep my DynDNS domain updated? I need it to always point to my current IP address.
Most routers have the functionality to automatically update your DynDNS account whenever the IP address is changed. If, however, your router does not support this function (or supports it but it just doesn't seem to work, like mine does) then you can download the DynDNS Updater from the DynDNS website. As long as you keep it running on a machine on the network then your domain name will always be up to date.

What's the difference between the PMPO and RMS wattage rating when it comes to speakers? Which one should I consider when buying new speakers?
I won't get into too much technical detail, as you can write an entire article about the differences between RMS and PMPO. Suffice it to say that RMS is considered to be a more accurate indication of a speaker's power, so you should rather consider RMS ratings than PMPO.

Which instant messaging program should I use on my internal network?
I personally use Outlook Messenger, but there are plenty of alternatives available.

When I send a message/use VoIP via Google Talk/Skype to my flatmate on the same network as me, there is no internet usage. Why is that?
Google Talk and Skype are able to route messages over the fastest network available, in this case the LAN, without the need for internet usage.

I love Linux's ability to have multiple desktops! Is there a way to do something similar with Windows?
There is a great open-source project called VirtuaWin. There are a few program limitations when using that software, as most software for Windows isn't written to support multiple desktops, but it works brilliantly.

I accidentally deleted a very important file. Is it possible to retrieve it?
There is a great little utility called FreeUndelete which will, in most cases, allow you to recover your recently deleted files.

 

[The_Techie]

How can I stop startup programs from executing?
Do the following steps:

a) Start -> Run -> msconfig

b) Click on "Startup"

c) Uncheck the selection box of the program in question.

d) Click Apply and OK.

When your computer is restarted, it'll let you know that you've chosen to do a selective startup. Just select the option to not warn you about this in future.

I have a process called "svchost.exe" which looks suspicious. I saw on a Google search that it's a virus. How can I get rid of it?
Slow down there, chances are that it's not a virus. The process svchost.exe contains a lot of critical services for Windows, such as Windows Update (that's why you might see some network utilization by svchost.exe). Unless your computer has been behaving strangely and you're absolutely certain that a virus has infected svchost.exe, leave it as is.

How can I find out the exact details of my CPU and graphics card?
You could either use System Information for Windows, or the following: CPU-Z and GPU-Z.

My graphics card is overheating and I've read that it's because the fan is not spinning up correctly. What should I do?
Just to make something perfectly clear: 80°C under load on an 8800GT, while a bit uncomfortable, is not overheating. For the purposes of this question I'll define overheating as "Bypassing the throttling threshold".

Once you are certain that your card is overheating, you have a number of options. First and foremost check whether anything is obstructing the airflow in your computer that would lead to higher temperatures within the case itself. Try removing the side panel from your computer and see whether this helps. If this does not help, establish whether the overheating is caused by the fan not spinning up or by poor bondage between the GPU core and the heatsink and fan assembly. You can do this by downloading a program called RivaTuner and using the hardware monitor to see a graph of your card's fan speed during a heavy gaming session.

If you have established that the fan is indeed not spinning up, you can create a profile within RivaTuner as detailed in this guide to raise the fan speed gradually as the temperatures increase. If this does not solve the problem then you most probably have an insufficient bondage between the GPU core and the heatsink and fan assembly. I would not recommend you to disassemble your graphics card unless you know someone who will be able to help you if something should go horribly wrong.

I've had enough of hackers trying to compromise my network. What can I do about it?
If you have a spare PC lying around, download and install Smoothwall, one of the best firewalls around. Other alternatives are IPCop and pfSense.

Do you know of any (preferably free) PDF creators that I can use?
CutePDF Writer comes highly recommended. Also have a look at PrimoPDF, which is a bit more advanced but does contain advertising messages.

My computer can no longer access the internet. I just installed Service Pack 3 for Windows XP...
That's your problem right there. Many Telkom customers have had problems, after installing Windows XP, of their bundled router/modem not assigning an IP address or configuring the DNS service properly. The best solution at the moment seems to be to manually specify your DNS servers, unfortunately. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to configure your computer in order to solve the problem:

a) Click on Start, right-click on My Network Places and click on Properties.

b) Right-click on your primary network adapter (the one which you are using to connect to your router/modem, be it wireless or wired), in this case the wired local area adapter and click on Properties.

c) Scroll down to "Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)", select it and click on Properties.

d) Select the "Use the following IP address:" option, as well as the "Use the following DNS server addresses:" option. Enter you're router's IP address in the "Primary DNS Server" field, as well as in the "Default Gateway" field. Use 255.255.255.0 for your subnet mask and enter an IP address similar to the one shown above.

That's it, now you should be able to connect to the internet again. Also have a look at this hotfix offered by Microsoft to resolve the issue.

 

[The_Techie]

How do I install a new graphics card in my system?
Have a look at what sn3rd posted in this thread. I have included an altered version as well:

Remember to observe static electricity safety principles!

1) Read the manual, it'll give you somewhat decent instructions as to how to go about doing this.
2) Make sure your computer is off and unplugged.
3) Open your chassis.
4) Remove old graphics card (if applicable). There are three common "latches" that are used to secure graphics cards. All are toward the graphics card slot toward the front of the motherboard. One is a sliding latch, one is a bending latch and the other is a "rotating" latch. You should make sure you "undo" this latch. You will likely have to undo a screw or fastener of some kind (depending on your chassis) that secure the graphics card at the back of the chassis. The graphics card should slide out fairly easily.
5) Once the slot is open, if you removed a graphics card, the back of the chassis should have an open slot. This is where your graphics card should fit in. If you didn't ever have a graphics card, there's a good chance the back of the chassis will need to have a cover or such removed. You should consult your chassis manual (or common sense) about how to go about doing this.
6) You should now be able to slot the graphics card in, remembering that the back of the graphics card should line up with the "hole" at the back of the chassis, and the latch on the PCI-express or AGP slot toward the front of the motherboard should be such that it is able to allow the graphics card in and latch.
7) Insert the graphics card with the components or fan facing downwards, remembering the notches on the graphics card's electrical contacts should match up with the notches in the PCI-express or AGP slot.
8) Fasten all screws / latches / fasteners to make sure the graphics card is secure.
9) Many graphics cards (especially higher end models) require external power. i.e. power not from the PCI-express or AGP slot. If this is the case (as stated in your manual, and observed by the physical card), you should use whatever connector is meant to be used. These connectors are usually provided with the card if they're strange proprietary connectors, otherwise the usual molex connector will likely be required.
10) Once everything is in and connected up, you're ready to turn on your PC!
11) The first sign that the card is working is that many cards give a short "splash screen" when you start up. If you don't see this, don't dispair, because there are various reasons you might not see it (it might be a really quick, short duration display, your monitor might take a few seconds to "power up" (in the case of CRT monitors) or the card may not give a splash screen at all).
12) The next sign that the card is working is seen if you were using onboard graphics before. If onboard graphics were using up some of your RAM (as onboard graphics does), then you will now instead see the full amount of RAM during POST.
13) The most obvious sign that the graphics card is being detected is that you are seeing anything whatsoever. If the monitor cable is plugged into the graphics card, and the monitor is actually showing text or images, then it's working, somewhat.
14) Boot into Windows or whatever operating system you desire and follow the procedures for configuring your graphics card. In Windows, this will likely involve popping in the included driver disc (or whatever driver you're going to install), and installing the driver and any utilities you want. If this is Linux, well then it depends what Linux you are using and what graphics card you are using.
15) Once you have configured your graphics card, it's time to test it. The easiest and most fun method would be to install a game and play it. You'll be able to tell from the performance whether your card is functioning properly. Likewise, you'll be able to tell from problems that it's not.

A few problems you might encounter:
1) The card does not fit. Many cards are VERY long these days, and if your chassis is quite small, then you're going to struggle to install it. If a hard drive is in the way, try moving the hard drive to another slot. Likewise, whatever is in the way, attempt moving it elsewhere. If this doesn't solve this problem, you're in a spot of trouble! You'll likely need a larger chassis (which is better in the long run anyway, right? )
2) Your power supply might not meet the recommended power requirements for the card. This might not be immediately recognizable, as the card may boot the computer as normal. There are cases, however, where the PC will simply not boot because the power supply doesn't have enough juice. You should check the manual for your card, as well as specifications for your power supply, and compare to ensure that you have enough power for the card.
3) You might receive strange beeps when starting up your PC, or nothing at all. This could be due to a few things, the most common of which are that you haven't inserted the card firmly enough (you should power down and unplug and make sure the card is firmly in place), and that your power supply isn't powerful enough.
4) A host of driver problems that is another thread completely.
5) While playing a game or whatever, you are seeing artifacts or strange performance anomalies including random hooking/freezing/BSOD. This can often be attributed to heat and/or insufficient power. You should eliminate these possibilities before declaring the card is dead on arrival.

I have received this email saying that the file "boot.ini" is a virus. I couldn't find it, but after enabling showing hidden files and folders, sure enough there it was. I deleted it and....
This email, along with it's infinite permutations, is a hoax. Real virus warnings seldom arrive through email, they get posted on anti-virus software vendors' websites. It is possible that the person sending you the email did so in good faith, after having seen a virus infect boot.ini and blaming the symptom, not the cause. The moral of the story? Never heed unsolicited emails claming that "Critical system file X is a virus", or at the very least Google it before taking any form of action.

Oh, and if you really did manage to delete the boot.ini file (which you're not supposed to be able to do), boot from your Windows XP installation disc, enter the Recovery Console and run FIXBOOT. More information about this command is available here.

I've read that some people can steal my saved website login passwords. Is this true? If it is, what can I do to protect my passwords?
Not only is it possible, but it's fast and easy to do. And no, I'm not going to show you how to do it. The best advice I could give you is to never save passwords. Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox will give you the option, simply click "No" and remember your password. If you must save your passwords, consider creating a Master Password for Mozilla Firefox. That way, your passwords are still saved but you cannot access/recover them without knowing the master password. You will need to type the master password once per browsing session if you want Mozilla Firefox to complete your password fields for you, however. That way, you only need to remember one password.

Which is best, Windows or Linux?
It depends on your needs and personal preferences, for one individual Windows is more suited to their needs/preferences, while for another Linux is. There is no real clear-cut answer to this question. I personally use Linux (Ubuntu) for my day-to-day computing needs and Windows for gaming. That way you get the best of both worlds.

I've read a lot of articles regarding HD, or High Definition. I know that TVs use 720p and 1080p (or 1080i) as high definition standards. Which resolution on a PC monitor is considered high definition for gaming?
The general consensus a few years ago was that 1600x1200 or higher could be considered as PC HD. The jury's still out on that one, though.

That's great, but, um, what does 720p and 1080p mean?
It simply refers to the max resolution that the display can, well, display. A display that is HD-ready for 720p has a resolution of at least 1280x720, while a display that is HD-ready for 1080p has a resolution of at least 1920x1080. Have a look at this Wikipedia article for more information.

Something called "System Restore" is using up a ton of hard drive space. What is it and should I use it?
System Restore is a feature that allows you to undo changes to certain critical system files. While in theory it should enable you to recover from most forms of software problems (such as driver conflicts), I prefer using dedicated backup software. But if you can spare a few gigabytes of your hard drive space, feel free to keep it enabled. You can even tell it to use less hard drive space if you're running low.

Can I defragment my hard drive from the command line? If so, how?
It's really easy, just follow the following steps:

a) Click Start -> Run -> cmd (or alternatively WinKey + R -> cmd)

b) Type the following in the command prompt to defragment your C:\ drive. If you wish to defragment a different drive, simply substitute C: for the drive you wish to defragment.

 

[The_Techie]

How do I schedule an automatic defragment of my hard drive?
I prefer doing this from the command line. Follow the following steps:

a) Click Start -> Run -> cmd (or alternatively WinKey + R -> cmd)

b) Type the following at the command prompt to automatically defragment your C:\ drive every weekday at 02:00. Simply substitute the parameters if you wish to alter it.

I have bought a 32-bit version of Windows. Do I need a different serial to install the 64-bit version?
No, you may use your 32-bit serial for the 64-bit version of Windows and vice versa. Keep in mind that you may only have it installed on a computer at any given time.

How do I correctly apply thermal paste to my CPU?
Have a look at this guide, which should tell you all you need to know.

Thanks to the following forumites for their contribution to this FAQ (in alphabetical order):
antowan, bdt, Bradbowlllama, bwana, DWPTA, feo, gdiza, Glordit, HavocXphere, hj2k_x, ID10T, iDenTiTy_CRiSiS, JUGGY, Mephisto_Helix, milomak, Necuno, PhreakBoy, QX6700RULZ, Saule, sn3rd, supersunbird, Telkomisaloser, teraside and The_Librarian.

The best way to show your appreciation for this FAQ is to refer other people to it. This will lower the amount of similar threads we have. And if your question isn't answered in this FAQ, please feel free to start a new thread.

Do you have any comments about/suggestions for this Hardware and Software FAQ? Please PM me, your input is greatly appreciated.

 

[bwana]

Mod_note - Please confine any and all replies to the following thread:
General Hardware and Software FAQ - replies