Computer Tips: Troubleshooting "No Sound"

Having a Computer that does not have a sound is kinda annoying, Right? I am sure some of you have experienced it quite some time in your life with computers. And yes, I know what you feel.

Here are some Computer Tips in Troubleshooting "No Sound":

1.) Check your speaker

• If it is turned on or the cables if it is connected to the correct audio port of your tower, the audio port usually has a color green and could found at the back and front of your tower.

A. Side surround left and right / line in / retasking jack
B. Line out / retasking jack
C. Center channel and LFE (subwoofer) / retasking jack
D. Microphone in / retasking jack
E. Surround left and right / retasking jack
F. S/PDIF digital audio out

2.) Check if the you see the speaker icon on your task bar.

• If it has a red circle on it it is possible that it is only muted, if yes, just double click on it and the master volume control window will appear and just click on the box beside the "mute all" to unchecked it.
• If it has a red "x" on it or if you cannot see it, this means that your sound is disabled or has a problem with your sound driver.

3.) To Fix this you need to reinstall the driver. Here are the on How to step to reinstall the driver:

Step 1: Find the driver for your Sound or Audio Device.

• If you have the driver go to step 2,

Where to find the driver?

• You can find it on the Driver CD that came with your motherboard if you purchase it separately or if you purchase the whole computer it is on the Restore CD (for branded computer) or contact the Technical support of your OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) and ask them for the Sound Driver for the model of your computer (Recommended for Branded Computers).

• If you do not have the Driver CD and/or you are using a clone computer (Non Branded Computer), you can check the brand and model or chipset of your motherboard and search for the driver in Google (recommended) or other browser and download it.

• If you purchase your sound card separately it should come with the Driver CD if not go to the website of your sound card and look for the driver of the sound card model you have.

Step 2: Go to Device Manager:

• To open Device Manager - Go to Start > Control Panel > Click on Systems > Under Hardware Tab click on Device Manager Button

Step 3: Look for Yellow Exclamation point or Question mark on your sound driver.

• If you do not see any proceed to Step 5.
• If it is working before then you can see it under [+] Sound, video and game controllers.
• If your sound card is newly installed you need to check it under [+] Other Devices.

Step 4: Updating of the Driver

1. Right click on the device that has a Yellow Exclamation point or Question mark then choose update driver.
2. Choose No, not at this time on the Hardware Update Wizard then click Next
3. Choose Install from a list or specific location
4. Choose Search for the best driver in these locations and put a check on Include this Location in the search and browse where the driver is located (if it is the CD , browse to the specific location or drive it is located)
5. Then Click on next then follow the steps on the window.
6. If the driver is installed properly then you should have a sound now.
7. 7. If not Go to step 5.

Step 5: Remove and reinstall the Sound Driver

1. On the Device Manager
2. Click on [+] Sound, video and game controllers
3. Right click on your Sound Device (usually it is Realtek or sigmatel or check the specs of your motherboard) or the one with the yellow question mark or exclamation point.
4. Choose Uninstall
5. Then Close all windows and restart your computer
6. Then repeat the from Step 2 onwards.

You should have sound right now. If not Check for Any errors and search for a possible fix on the internet or do a system restore to an earlier date.

Having a sound is one of the most essential feature of a computer. Specially if you love playing mp3, watching movies or a Gamer.

I do hope this post provides you with the answers or at least point you in the right direction where you can find answer with your sound problem. If you have any questions and suggestion please fee free to leave a comment and I would be glad to answer it for you.

PC Case Modification (Case Modding)

PC Case Modification or which is commonly referred to as case modding is the modification of a computer chassis or the case. There are certain reason why we modify a computer case particularly hardware enthusiasts, use case mods to illustrate a computer's power, for aesthetic purposes or to improve a computer's performance. PC Case modification or case modding is a cool way to demonstrate your being a computer savvy however justlike most expert says "Kids don't do this at home". 

Here are some cool PC Case modification or case modding I came accross in the net:

1. Wood Case PC - completely made out of wood.  This could accent your home’s wooden furniture. 

2. The Microwave PC Mod - This could be the perfect computer for your stylish, modern kitchen, all the while disguising the fact there’s actually a computer underneath.  Of course, it would be super cool if you can actually use the microwave too. 

3. The Passively-cooled PC Mod - It is basically a PC case surrounded with cooling fans all-over. This is recommended for those overclocked processors where you need to cool the CPU down drastically.  

4. The Suitcase PC Case mod - It is a suitcase converted to be a PC case. Recommended if you want to move your computer from one time to another since it easier to carry as it’s embedded in a hard-cover case with a sturdy handle.  If I am traveling a lot and I need the power of Intel Core i7s for rendering 1080P HD videos, I will certainly build myself one of these.  Even if I am not, this could be the ultimate gamer’s travel PC case when laptops just can’t cut it. 

5. The WMD (Weapon of Mass Destruction) PC case mod - One of the most creative PC case mods we have seen.

6. The Wind Turbine PC case mod - It supposed to be a “cycber pumpkin” and it certainly does look like one. It reminds me of another powerful weapon of some sort with its crazy glowing LEDs. 

7. The Batmobile Tumbler PC case mod - Most die-hard Batman fans would definitely want this one. 

8. The Lego PC case mod  - It’s super-clean, could be a great resource of insight and inspiration to lego lovers/addicts out there. 

9. The Pyramid PC case mod - With see-through surfaces so you can always tell if your hardware is working right.  Plus, this pyramid PC case mod will certainly brighten up your desk and room.

10. The Mirror-finish PC case mods - Well no intruduction needed for this one it is simply PC with a mirror sides.

Well you can find other PC Case Modification on Case Mod - The Ultimate List and Zedomax ...

Video Card Upgrade Tips

A video card, also referred to as a graphics accelerator card, display adapter, graphics card, is a piece of hardware installed in a computer that is responsible for rendering or generating an output or image on the computer’s monitor or display screen.

Video Card Upgrade? Well this is probably the best way to enhance your systems graphics and picture. As a Computer savvy I could say that this on e of the important things you should consider specially if you are a Gamer. Specially, nowadays that most new games needs a load of video memory.

There are certain factors you will have to consider before deciding if you need a Video Card Upgrade. Here are some Video Card Upgrade Tips:

1.) What Video Card Do you have?

This is would probably the first question you have to ask if you are looking for a Video Card upgrade. Most computer motherboard nowadays comes with an integrated Video. One way to check it is by running the DirectX Diagnostic Tool, to open this: Click on Start > Click on Run > and type "dxdiag" > Under display Tab you can see it under "Device" Header.

You may also check it with your invoice if you have a separate video card installed. If you do not see any Video card in your invoice you probably have an integrated video card.

2.) What Video Card do you need?

This is what I think the second factor you should consider in upgrading your video card. We should know what video card you need. For Gamers, the best way to know what video card yo need is to check the system requirements of the game you are going Play or would like to play. This will give you the hint of what video card you need. For non gamers, I would recommend you to at least have a 64 MB Video Memory of any type of video card would good enough. One thing you would like to put in your mind. It is better to have a better video card than less one. At least you save time and money from upgrading again in the future.

3.) What Video Card does your system supports?

This would be the third factor but I think this is the most important factor you should consider in upgrading your Video card. It is useless to have the best video card and not being able to use it. The keyword here is "Compatibility". You should know what your system supports. The first thing to know is the interface of the Video card that your system supports. The best way to check it is by knowing what your motherboard supports.

First you should know if your system can support a PCI(Peripheral Component Interconnect), an AGP ( Accelerated Graphics Port) or a PCI-E (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express).
After knowing what is the interface your system supports.


You will also need to check the power supply you have and the video card's power supply requirements. Video Cards with a PCI and a AGP Interface usually requires a Power Supply upto 300 Watts but there are some High end AGP Video cards that requires 350 Watts to 400 Watts Power supply. But if you are looking for a PCI-E Video Card I would recommend you to have at least 400 Watts of Power supply, but some highend video cards require more than that depending on an video cards requirements. Another thing also for some Advance and Hardrcore gamers that used dual video card the Scalable Link Interface (SLI) for Nvidia and CrossFire for ATI, this technology uses 2 high end video cards to combine its performance in one output. This usually requires at least 700 Watts of Power supply and some may require more. This is recommended for advance users.

4.)Where do we go for Video Card Upgrades?

Video card Upgrades can be purchased in every computer store. I cannot tell which video card to use or buy. I can only say that in purchasing a new video card upgrade, aside from its technical aspects you will need also to consider the price. Spending $100 plus more or less is enough, or if you are here in the Philippines, there are also much cheaper video cards that ranges from 1000 to 3000 pesos depending on your needs. But if you are a high end gamer, spending woung range from $200 - $400 more or less or 4000 to 10,000 pesos more or for the latest and high end video cards. Not to mention you need to upgrade your power supply and the cooling system of your system since high end requires it. Plus before purchasing it, please make that you have checked the video cards specs and reviews online. I would also recommend you to contact your OEM Technical Support or Upgrade Support for recommendations.


Video Card Upgrades is one of the essential upgrades you will be doing for your computer. Although it does not affect much of the speed of your Computer compared to RAM Upgrades. It is also important because if we are using an integrated video it shares with our physical RAM, and by adding a separate video card it will free some resources and will results to an additional speed to your computer.

I hope this Video Card Upgrade Tips have provided you some information or atleast point you to the right direction. Thanks for reading....

Computer Maintenance Tips

With my more than 15 years in computers since High school. I already came across with not all kinds of computers but I believe I have seen and handled most of them. Let me impart to you this Computer Maintenance Tips.

The question here is "Do you want to add life on your computer?".

We may have different uses for our Computer, but as a Computer user we need to maintain it, to have a better and smooth experience not to mention if we are using it to do our work. This is where Computer Maintenance comes in.

Most Computer Users spend a fortune just to have the best computer and the top of the line peripherals. For me I consider that as an investment and I don't blame others for spending that much just to have it. Since I consider it as an investment, I have to protect and take care of my investment.

Here are some basic Computer Maintenance Tips I can share:

1.) Turn off your computer properly
One of the causes of permanent hard drive failure and defect is the the sudden power shutdown. So for your hard drives health, Never, I mean never turn off your computer by pushing the power button or by pulling the plug from the outlet. And in case it hangs, that is the only way to you push the reset button key or if the keyboard is still active just press Ctrl+Alt+Delete keys at the same time twice to restart or reboot your computer.
I would also also recommend using a UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply), this will give you time to save and turn off your computer properly in case there is a power outage.
Turn off your computer before unplugging any peripherals unless it is "hot swap" enable. This will short or cause your computer to freeze.

2.) Scandisk and Defrag
Running Scandisk and Disk Defragmenter once a month is recommended. This will keep your hard drive healthy and for you monitor its health. Using some hard drive utilities would also be advisable.

3.) Update Antivirus
Install and regularly update your Anti-virus and Anti-Spyware program. This is one of the basic application or program that we must have in our computer specially if you are regularly using the Internet. We must have this application to have protection from viruses and spy wares on the net. We can use some Free Anti-virus and Anti-Spyware program or if you want a premium package your can get it with just a couple of bucks. Either of the two would be good as long as it updates and protects.

4.) Turn on your Firewall
Turning on your Firewall is also advisable specially when you are always surfing. By doing this it will protect your Computer just like Anti-virus and Anti-Spyware program did. Plus it will protect you from unwanted visitors.

5.) Backup
Always keep a backup of your files, data or pictures. This will give you a worry free life in case you computer crashes. Using a Flash Drive or a second hard drive would be recommended. Burning it to a CD /DVD using CD /DVD burner would also be advisable.

6.) Free Space
Do keep at least 100MB free hard disk space or I would recommend at least 500MB Free hard disk space on your computer. This will prevent your computer from choking or hanging when you are open or use an application. This usually happens when you are multi tasking, meaning opening a browser and playing some music or other application at the same time.

7.) Ventilation
Having an Air conditioned room for your computer is recommended, however if you do not have it, just keep or place it in a well ventilated room would be required. One of the worst enemy to your computer is heat. It causes the internal components and chips to wear out. It also lowers the performance of your system.
For most computers it needs a better cooling system. Installing some extra fan or other cooling system would also be advisable.

8.) Direct Sunlight
One of most basic health care instruction and I even read it once in a computer box. Never, put your computer where is a direct sunlight. It raises your computers temperature and may lead to overheating.

9.) Keep it clean
Always keep it clean. Remove the dust. Dust is like a blanket, which keeps the chips of your components nice and hot. The more dust, the hotter they get. The best way is to clean the outer part every day with a soft cloth and for the inside part of your tower a vacuum cleaner hose would be advisable.

Hope this Computer Maintenance Tips help you in maintaining your computer to run smoothly. Computer is one investment we do not want to go into waste. So let us take care of it. As they say "Prevention is Better than Cure".

RAM Upgrades?

RAM Upgrades? That is question that pops up when we suddenly experience some lags and lockups, specially when we are playing games and or browsing the internet. Well as for me, there are certain factors to consider when we go for a RAM Upgrade...

Here are the 4 things I think is the most important factors we should consider before doing so :

1) How much RAM do you have? We should know how much memory do you have. You can check how much memory do you have (For Windows XP) is by Right Clicking on "My Computer" then choose Properties, under General Tab of the System Properties window you can see how many memory do you have under Computer just below or beside CPU Speed.

2) How much RAM do you need? We should know how much memory do you need. If you are using Windows XP, just browsing the internet and with some minor programs word processing and chatting a 512 MB would be enough. But if you are playing some online and or off line high end games, I would recommend you to maximize your it.

3) What are My Options for RAM Upgrade? You should consider your options, the type of RAM and the maximum your computer can take. The best way to verify your options is by reading the motherboard manual for specs and or you can check it online by searching the model of the motherboard and or computer on search engines and support page for branded computers. You may also try contacting your OEM (Original equipment manufacturer) or Store where you purchase it for the info.

4 ) Where do we go for RAM Upgrades? For Branded Computer, you can go to your OEM or Stores, this will assure you that you are getting a reliable and compatible RAM Upgrade. Getting in touch with there Technical Support or Upgrade Support would also be recommended. If you are using a Clone or Non Branded Computers, you can go to some computer stores and or online stores for available upgrades.

RAM Upgrades is very important to us specially for everyday computer users, to have smooth computing experience and by doing so we can accomplish our work much easier. Hope this 4 factors help you in considering if you need a RAM Upgrade. Please feel free to give your comments and suggestions in this subject.

Make your Computer Healthy: Tips and Tricks

An important part of keeping the computer in good health and working efficiently is the maintenance of the computer. Windows 95 has a lot of the tools that are required for maintaining the system. Windows 98 extends the possibilities and this makes it a lot easier. There is a range of things that you can do in order maximize the level of efficiency that the computer is able to deliver. It is possible to maintain the computer at a very low cost. There are a lot of programs available for keeping the computer in good condition and a lot of these programs feature strong engines. There are a lot of programs that are found the start menu, program menu, accessories menu and also in the systems folder for tools.

It is recommended that the defrag disk is run in Windows 95 on a regular basis at least once a month at whenever you either remove or add a program. This can also be run in Windows 98 but is should be run once a week due to the new engine. The more this software is run the faster the system will be able to operate. The programs are places in the hard disk in such a way that it allows the regularly used programs to be located a lot easier.

The scan disk should be run on the system once a month regardless of whether you are using Windows 95 and Windows 98. It is possible to run this program once a month and this is especially the case if the hard disk is taking a long time to run the systems. Normally the checks will actually run through at a reasonable folder and file. The disk cleanup is good for seeing how much space unnecessary files, which are in the temp file or the recycle bin are taking up. This will then allow you to remove the unnecessary files.

The pcdocpro is a simple piece of software that is actually very effective. This software can be downloaded for free from the Microsoft website. The pcdocpro software normally takes about a minute to completely check the registry system of the computer. It is a very good idea to use the windows updates, as this will make sure that your computer is up to date and has all the latest problems sorted. Clicking on the start menu under windows 98 can access these updates.

There are other things that you can do in order to improve the speed of the computer system. The first thing that you can do is to let the computer completely start prior to opening any applications or software. Anther very useful thing to do is to refresh the desktop after closing any of the computer applications as this will remove ant unused files from the memory of the computer. It is a good idea to avoid using large sized icons on your wallpaper, as this will take up more the memory space on the computer.

Source: toolsntricks.com

Make your Computer Healthy: Tips and Tricks

An important part of keeping the computer in good health and working efficiently is the maintenance of the computer. Windows 95 has a lot of the tools that are required for maintaining the system. Windows 98 extends the possibilities and this makes it a lot easier. There is a range of things that you can do in order maximize the level of efficiency that the computer is able to deliver. It is possible to maintain the computer at a very low cost. There are a lot of programs available for keeping the computer in good condition and a lot of these programs feature strong engines. There are a lot of programs that are found the start menu, program menu, accessories menu and also in the systems folder for tools.

It is recommended that the defrag disk is run in Windows 95 on a regular basis at least once a month at whenever you either remove or add a program. This can also be run in Windows 98 but is should be run once a week due to the new engine. The more this software is run the faster the system will be able to operate. The programs are places in the hard disk in such a way that it allows the regularly used programs to be located a lot easier.

The scan disk should be run on the system once a month regardless of whether you are using Windows 95 and Windows 98. It is possible to run this program once a month and this is especially the case if the hard disk is taking a long time to run the systems. Normally the checks will actually run through at a reasonable folder and file. The disk cleanup is good for seeing how much space unnecessary files, which are in the temp file or the recycle bin are taking up. This will then allow you to remove the unnecessary files.

The pcdocpro is a simple piece of software that is actually very effective. This software can be downloaded for free from the Microsoft website. The pcdocpro software normally takes about a minute to completely check the registry system of the computer. It is a very good idea to use the windows updates, as this will make sure that your computer is up to date and has all the latest problems sorted. Clicking on the start menu under windows 98 can access these updates.

There are other things that you can do in order to improve the speed of the computer system. The first thing that you can do is to let the computer completely start prior to opening any applications or software. Anther very useful thing to do is to refresh the desktop after closing any of the computer applications as this will remove ant unused files from the memory of the computer. It is a good idea to avoid using large sized icons on your wallpaper, as this will take up more the memory space on the computer.

Source: toolsntricks.com

3 simple ways to speed your pc

1. Every time you open mycomputer there will be slight delay because it will check for network files and printers. u can turn it off by
Open My computer=>Tools =>folder options =>view tab
uncheck automatically search for network folders and printers then
click apply => OK===> then restart

2.Speed up Boot time
create a batch file that will delete all temp files and history.
open notepad and type

RD /S /q "C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\History"
RD /S /q "C:\Documents and Settings\Default User\Local Settings\History"
RD /S /q "C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\Temp"

save it as speedboot.bat
click Start=>run=>type gedit.msc
click computer configuration=>windows settings
double click =>scripts =>shutdown =>add
then browse the speedboot.bat and click ok

3.speed up RAM performance
Start =>run => msconfig.exe =>click system.ini tab
click plus sign next to 386enh and click new .then type conservativeSwapfileUsage=1
click ok
Restart

How to Block Any Installed Application from Lunching on Your Computer?

Today tip will help you to block any windows built-in applications or other third party programs from being executed on a target computer. If you want to restrict an application from running your family members and co-workers then AppLocker provides a simple solution to do so. However this tip is very useful for you, if you are sharing your computer with others or you do not want that other persons run all installed applications. This trick will work in nearly all of the windows versions like windows 2000, XP, 2003 and 2008.

AppLocker provides us a complete solution to block any programs from being executed on a target computer. You can download this tool for any windows version using AppLocker link. Download it and run the easy setup.

After installation, double click on AppLocker icon on your desktop to start the Application Locker software. Now this application will display the list of computer software programs like Microsoft Word, Excel, Internet Explorer and many others.

Here click on any application checkbox and then click on Save button to block any software. For example, if you want to block Internet Explorer then select the checkbox of internet explorer and now after saving the change click on Internet Explorer to start it. Here you will get following message :

Now here you can add other application other than the default lock application list, you can lock other programs by clicking the “Configure” button to open the configuration window. Type the caption you want displayed on the ‘Lock application list’. Then, type the programs executable file name and click the ‘Add’ button to add new applications.

How to Connect Your Home Computer From Remote Location?

Using the Remote Desktop feature, you can connect your home computer (host) from any other remote computer (client) and can access all computer resources (installed programs, data and any network resources). You can run any computer application on the remote computer as you were running actually sitting in front of home computer.

Follow the given steps to configure your computer to connect remote computer :

• To use this feature, you will need to be logged into your computer with administrative rights.
• To perform this task, first make sure your both computers are connected to the internet.
• First you have to configure the host computer that allows the users to connect it remotely. On the host computer, right click on "My computer" and click on Properties option.
  

• Under the Remote tab, select the option "Allow users to connect remotely to this computer" and click Ok button.

• Now get the IP address of host computer (type the "ipconfig /all" on the command prompt of host computer to find IP address).

• Now make a connection on remote or client computer, click on Start button, go to All Programs> Accessories, and Communications, then click on Remote Desktop Connection, option.
  
• A Remote Desktop Connection, dialog box will appear.

• Click on Options button for detail configuration, under the General tab, type the IP address of host computer in the Computer box and also type username and password of host computer then click on Connect button to make a connection to remote computer.

• If your username and password is correct then a remote desktop windows will appear.

Does your Computer Really Need Tech Support

Tips and How To

While experienced computer users can easily make a correct diagnosis out of observable signs and symptoms exhibited by their PCs, the rest of us barely have a clue as to whether or not something is really wrong with our computers. Although some problems may require an expert to fix, most glitches can easily be corrected without the need for a technician. So how do you really tell if your computer really requires repair? Here are tips on how to check:

• Learning to Eliminate
  Unless you are experienced at diagnosing what ails your computer, the best thing you can do is to try to determine the problem by elimination. First, find out the symptoms and then consider the most possible causes and eliminate those that are not plausible. This will help you discover the most possible explanation for the problem. From there, you can decide whether or not your computer really requires repair.



• Learning to Scan
  Many of the problems manifested by the computer are caused by malware such as viruses, spyware and adware. As long as your computer and antivirus software are updated, you can perform a regular scan to check for any infection. In most cases, common problems are solved this way, although others may require you to download patches to correct any errors and vulnerabilities.



• No Power
  If your computer won’t turn on, don’t immediately assume you’ll need professional help. Check if it’s connected to a power outlet and then check if there is power. Next, check the power button and the connections for the cables. If using a battery to run a laptop, determine if the battery has been sufficiently charged. Only when you’ve checked all possible scenarios and still failed should you consider having your computer repaired.



• Slowpoke Computer
  A slow computer may not always be a sign that it really requires repair. It may be because you’re running a lot of programs that may be too much of a burden for the amount of memory your computer has. Try to close programs you don’t need and delete stuff you have no use for. Empty your recycle bin right after. Defrag your system to re-organize your files.

If these steps still don’t fix your problem, it may either be because you need more memory or that there’s something in your system that requires a checkup from the professionals.

• Missing Drivers
  This usually comes as a surprise, when your computer shows a message indicating that a device is missing. If you are quite sure that drivers for hardware you’re using have already been installed, try to re-install them using the appropriate CDs. In minor cases, that should fix the problem. If the problem continues or if your computer exhibits even stranger symptoms, that’s a clear sign that you really need to have it repaired.



• The need to Reboot now and then
  Frequent rebooting is often the result of a system freezing or hanging up. This is when the computer screen just simply stops reacting to what you do and nothing you can do to the keyboard or the mouse seems to work. The only way to make the system work again is to press the reboot button. If this happens, then it’s a sign that you shouldn’t try to fix it yourself because your computer really requires repair.

Source: tekologik.com

7 Tips to Prevent Motherboard Bad BIOS Flash

BIOS is an important component of your computer, with out which your computer won’t run at all. Many motherboard manufacturer often issue BIOS updates to fix bugs, minor enhancements, support for newer processors (CPU) and RAM. Many people end screwing up their computer’s motherboard because they don’t take proper precautions when flashing their motherboard’s BIOS. Remember most motherboard manufacturers do not offer warranty for bad flash.


Below 7 Tips to prevent Motherboard bad BIOS flash :

1. Check your Power Supply before you start flashing: The most common cause for screwed up BIOS is power failure during the flashing process. Before you start flashing make sure to connect your computer to a UPS. In event of power failure the UPS would be able to provide power to your computer.

2. If you use UPS make sure that its battery has got enough juice: If the battery of your UPS does not have enough charge, then your computer would go down when there is a power failure or surge. I suggest you plan your BIOS flashing process in advance; you can check your UPS’s battery by putting in battery mode. By doing this you would also come to know how long your UPS would last in event of a power failure. Also make sure you charge your UPS properly so that the battery charge is full when start flashing you motherboard.

3. Correctly identify your motherboard model and current BIOS version: To flash your motherboards BIOS you require the correct BIOS flash file, if you flash your motherboard with wrong BIOS then your motherboard is dead. Though you can identify the your motherboard model using software utilities but I usually do not rely on them. I open up the computers cabinet and find out the motherboard model from there, remember your motherboard model number is always printed on your motherboard. Once you know the motherboard model can head to your manufacturers website and download the latest BIOS update. All of today’s modern BIOS flash utility that manufacturers provide have inbuilt mechanism that prevents you from flashing the wrong BIOS version. This is for people who flash in DOS mode.

4. Close unnecessary programs when you flash within Windows: As you all know sometimes Windows may behave strangely or become unstable so to avoid all this, you better close all programs. My sincere advise would be avoid flashing from within Windows, instead flash from a USB Flash drive in DOS mode.

5. When flashing in DOS mode prefer USB flash drive instead of a Floppy: A floppy disk is very sensitive to environment when compared to a USB flash drive and can get corrupted very soon. So I would suggest you to use USB flash drive instead of a floppy disk.

6. Scan your USB flash disk or Floppy disk for errors or bad sectors before flashing: If your USB flash disk or floppy disk has bad sectors then the BIOS file would get corrupted and probably you would end up with a bad flash. So scanning your USB flash disk or floppy disk makes lot of sense.

7. Read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully before flashing: Each manufacturer provides various ways of flashing your BIOS so before flashing read the instructions for the method that you plan to use carefully and proceed further.

How stop the noise in copying audio CD?

When you are using 3rd party burning software (eg, Roxio, Nero Burning Rom) to copy audio CD,some noise may be heard at the end of each track. To prevent this,try the following steps:

1. Enter System Properties\device manager
2. Select IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers
3. Double click on thee CD writer IDE channel
4. Select advance setting
5. Change the transfer mode to 'PIO Only'
6. Restart Computer

Hope that helps.

How to Reset Your lost Bios Password

Here's a DOS trick for Windows 9x, that will reset (delete) your motherboard's BIOS password (aka CMOS password) without any need to open up your computer to remove the battery or mess with jumpers.

This method can come in very handy in the event you ever lose and forget your BIOS password or if you acquire used computers where the unknown previous owners had BIOS passwords set (in fact, this happened to me long ago was given a used computer, but there was no way I could enter the CMOS to make changes). It's important to note here that the password we are talking about is only the one that prevents a user from entering the BIOS setup at bootup, not the one that stops you from getting past the boot.

Normally, at bootup you can press a key (usually the DEL key) to access your BIOS allowing you to view it or make changes. With a password set, there is no way to enter setup. Though a password can provide a basic and very effective level of PC security, losing it can be a real headache if you don't know how to fix the problem.

The MS-DOS command that will makes this trick possible is the DEBUG command (debug itself is a utility debug.exe which is located in your Windows Command folder). This is not a command to be taken lightly in other words, it's not a command to play with! You can cause serious corruption with this command and can end up not being able to even boot your computer! Debug is used to work with binary and executable files and allows you to alter (hex edit) the contents of a file or CPU register right down to the binary and byte level.

To begin debug mode, type debug at a MS-DOS prompt or you can specify a file, i.e., DEBUG FILE.EXE. There is a difference in screen output between the two methods. When you type DEBUG alone, debug responds with a hyphen (-) prompt waiting for you to enter commands. The second method, with a file specified, loads the file into memory and you type all the commands on the line used to start debug. In this tip, we will be writing to the BIOS, so the first method is the one that would be used. All debug commands can be aborted at any time by pressing CTRL/C.

Accessing BIOS with DEBUG

The basic trick will be to fool the BIOS into thinking there is a checksum error, in which case it resets itself, including the password. This is done by invalidating the CMOS and to do that we must know how to access the BIOS and where the checksum value of the CMOS is located so that we can change it. Access to the the BIOS content is via what are known as CMOS Ports and it's Port 70 and 71 that will give us the needed access. On almost all AT motherboards, the checksum is located at hexadecimal address 2e and 2f and filling the address 2e with ff is all you should have to do to invalidate the checksum.

Here's what to do if you ever need to reset the password and have no other method, and you don't want to open up your computer to remove the battery or jumpers.

Note! Do this at your own risk. I can only tell you that it has worked for me more than once and has worked for others as well. But I cannot make any guarantees. When I did this, I took a willing risk. The BIOS was Award Modular BIOS v4.51PG


Restart your computer in MS-DOS mode.

When you get to the C:\> or C:\WINDOWS> prompt, type DEBUG and press Enter.

A hyphen (-) prompt will appear waiting for you to enter commands.

Enter the following commands, pressing Enter after each one. Note: the o is the letter o and stands for OUTPUT.

o 70 2e
o 71 ff
q

After the q command (which stands for QUIT), enter Exit.

Then try to enter your BIOS at bootup. The password prompt should now be gone and you should now have full access to it again. However, you will now be at the default BIOS setttings and may want to change them to your preference. You may also want to have your drives autodetected again.
In closing, I should state that in the case of a lost BIOS password, your first step should always be to contact your manufacturer to see if a backdoor password is available that will allow you to bypass the forgotten password.

There are many sites on the net that list backdoor passwords you can try, but beware that some BIOS that are set up to lock up if you enter the wrong password more than a certain number of times, usually only 3 times!

How to increase your Laptop Battery's Life ?

Dear friends you have read many interesting tips from my site and I think you have gained more knowledge from them. Now I have a more interesting tip to increase your Laptop's battery life. There is no matter, laptop manufactures gives you the guarantee about the battery that how long it works. The battery of laptop always stops working very early at some stage in essential research, just like when you are watching a DVD movie.

Follow the few steps to increase the laptop battery's life :

Stop your wireless signal when you are not using.

After turning off your Laptop can save max. 20 minutes of your laptop's battery time because WiFi can use a considerable quantity of power. By right clicking you can stop your WiFi signal when you are not using.

Manage the correct power scheme in XP

Windows XP contain a number of predetermined power plans, which control settings like how rapidly your laptop turns off and when your screen saver boots in. You can change your laptop power scheme by choosing Control Panel > Power Options. For max. Battery life from the "Power scheme" chooses the option "Max. Battery" and decline the list. There are good choices for you just like "Low Power Mode" and Portable /Laptop. They don't conserve as much power as Max Battery. After selecting a power scheme you click Ok button to finish the process.

How to Connect Your Home Computer From Remote Location

Using the Remote Desktop feature, you can connect your home computer (host) from any other remote computer (client) and can access all computer resources (installed programs, data and any network resources). You can run any computer application on the remote computer as you were running actually sitting in front of home computer.

Follow the given steps to configure your computer to connect remote computer :

To use this feature, you will need to be logged into your computer with administrative rights.

To perform this task, first make sure your both computers are connected to the internet.

First you have to configure the host computer that allows the users to connect it remotely. On the host computer, right click on "My computer" and click on Properties option.

Under the Remote tab, select the option "Allow users to connect remotely to this computer" and click Ok button.

Now get the IP address of host computer (type the "ipconfig /all" on the command prompt of host computer to find IP address).

Now make a connection on remote or client computer, click on Start button, go to All Programs> Accessories, and Communications, then click on Remote Desktop Connection, option. A Remote Desktop Connection, dialog box will appear.

Click on Options button for detail configuration, under the General tab, type the IP address of host computer in the Computer box and also type username and password of host computer then click on Connect button to make a connection to remote computer.

If your username and password is correct then a remote desktop windows will appear.

How to Backup of Your Computer Installed Drivers

You can easily create the backup of your computer installed drivers (just the particular or all drivers) and use it to troubleshoot any driver problems. This backup will be very useful when you will format your computer window due to any reason. There is no need to search the drivers from internet or drivers CD, just import the driver backup and within five minute, you will complete the driver installation process. You can move this backup from one computer to other computer for installation.

To complete the all process, we will use a simple tool called DriverMax. Using this tool, we can easily export the backup of any specific or all drivers and then import it for reinstallation later or elsewhere. You can free download (with free registration code) this tool for windows XP and Vista also. Download it and run the easy setup.

After Installation launch DriverMax, the first screen you will get with title "DriverMax - Version" and options "Export drivers, Import drivers and Installed drivers report". Just click on "Export Driver" option to start backup process.
Now after welcome screen, system will take few seconds to create the list of all installed drivers and then show you all installed drivers list.

Here you can select any specific device driver or click on "Select all" button to create the backup of entire installed drivers.

Press the Next button and in next screen you can select the export type (simple backup or in zip format) and then choose the backup location (always choose drive other than C drive).

Again press the Next and system will take some time (depend upon the size of your drivers) to finish exporting the selected drivers.

Click the "Open extraction folder button" to view the backup files or press Close button to finish it.
Now you can use this backup files (using import option) to restore drivers backup or move to any other computer. For the software download from link below :

download Drivermax

Data Recovery Tips - Backup Your Data to Prevent Data Loss

Data loss is a plague that can hit anyone and anytime, regardless of technical prowess, handling care, operating system or hardware configuration. In many cases, data loss is caused by factors that are out of our reach and unfortunately, in some of these cases data recovery is impossible. A burnt out hard disk is the clearest example that comes to mind. It?s often not your fault that it breaks down and data recovery is impossible. This is a rare case still and most data loss problems can be fixed with the help of data recovery tools, professional software, some technical knowledge and a bit of common sense. Let?s go through a few data recovery tips and tricks that might help you recover those accidentally deleted files and keep you from deleting them again.

Backup, backup and more backup!
Constant and organized backup is the only way you can save some data that would be otherwise impossible to recover, due to a physical problem like the one described above. But backing up data is not as easy as it seems at first glance. First of all, you need to organize a backup system, like copying your essential data from your hard disk to CDs, flash disks, DVDs or another external destination.

One thing that will prove very useful is keeping all your data on a small number of different external destinations. If you burn each document or excel file you create on a different disk as backup and you?ll need it later on, there?s two things that can go wrong: A. You won?t find the specific disk within the sea of disks where you keep your backup and B. The disk may get physically damaged itself after a while. Try keeping everything on a single DVD (you can burn data on a disk and leave it open for future burning), assuming 4.7 GB are enough for what most people consider essential data on their computers. Also make a backup for the backup, just in case something bad happens to it, like a spilt can of coffee on the DVD drawer (way more common than you might think!)

Using data recovery software vs. using the services of a professional data recovery company
The decision is yours to make, but unless you absolutely know what you?re doing and know how to use the data recovery software by yourself, it?s best if you employ a professional company to do it for you. Don?t build a technical ego just because you managed to install Windows by yourself, with data recovery, you?ll be dealing with much more sensitive matters. If you fumble up your Windows installation process, you can simply start over. If you accidentally remove every chance of recovering a bunch of files, there?s no turning back.

Use your operating system?s data recovery options
Both Mac and PC operating systems such as OS/X or Windows have built-in data recovery tools that can be helpful in case of logical or human error-related data loss. Sometimes you?ll find them easier to use than professional data recovery software, mainly because they?re built under the same structure as the operating system, so you?re already familiar with the interface. However, in what regards recovery options and efficiency, you can?t compare the standard operating system tools with a professional data recovery program so if your data loss issue is more complex, you?re probably better off using the latter.

Tips Mengetahui Trouble Komputer Melalui Bios

Kita mungkin sering mengalami permasalahan dengan PC kita, tetapi kita tidak tahu bagian mana yang mengalami kerusakan so otomatis jalan pintasnya adalah membawa semua PC ke service. Hal ini tidak akan terjadi lagi bila kita tahu tanda-tanda yang "dikatakan komputer" atau dengan kata lain isyarat yang bisa berupa suara atau kedipan lampu. Daripada terlalu banyak panjang lebar kita mulai saja tips yang akan di bahas disini, ok siapkan bolpoin and kertas secukupnya buat catatan kalian.

AMI BIOS

Gejala: Bunyi Beep 1x

Masalah: RAM/Memory tidak terpasang dengan baik atau rusak

Gejala: Bunyi Beep 6x

Masalah: Menunjukkan keyboard yang rusak atau IC A20-nya sendiri

Gejala: Bunyi Beeb 8x

Masalah: Graphic card/VGA card tidak terpasang dengan baik atau rusak

Gejala: Bunyi Beep 11x

Masalah: Cheksum Error, Periksa Baterey Bios dan ganti dengan yang baru

AWARD BIOS

Gejala: Beep 1x panjang

Masalah: RAM/Memory tidak terpasang dengan baik atau rusak

Gejala: Beep 1x panjang 2x pendek

Masalah: Kerusakan pada VGA Card bisa juga pemasangan pada slot kurang pas

Gejala: Beep 1x panjang 3x pendek

Masalah: Keyboard rusak atau tidak terpasang

Gejala: Beep tidak terputus/bunyi terus-menerus

Masalah: RAM atau Graphic Card tidak terdeteksi

Batterey CMOS rusak atau lemah

Gejala: Muncul pesan CMOS Cheksum Vailure/Batterey Low

Solusi: Segera ganti battereynya

Permasalahan Lain

Gejala: CPU yang sering Hang

Masalah: Adanya BadSector di harddisk, ada virus, Hardware bermasalah seperti Memory kotor /rusak, Mother Board kotor/rusak, Cooling Fan perputaran fannya sudah lemah, Power Supplay tidak stabil

Gejala: Sering tampil blue screen

Masalah: Bisa disebabkan system windows ada yang rusak, bisa dari memory, harddisk,bisa dari komponen lainnya tergantung pesan yang ditampilkan blue screen

Gejala: Komputer menjadi lebih lambat

Masalah: Space Harddisk terlalau penuh, terlalu banyak program/software yang memakan space harddisk dan memory, ada virus, adanya bad sector pada harddisk.

Tips Perawatan Komputer

Ada beberapa tips yang perlu diperhatikan agar komputer kita lebih aman dan awet diantaranya adalah :
1. Sediakan UPS, Sering kali tegangan listrik turun-naik atau bahkan mati tiba-tiba akan berdampak kurang baik pada PC , terutama PC yang sudah lama, akan mengakibatkan rusaknya Power Supply, rusaknya Hardisk, bahkan Morherboard.
Terutama hardisk, hardisk perlu kesetabilan saat bekerja, bila tiba-tiba listrik mati terjadilah kejutan yang bisa menyebabkan tergoresnya track tecordingnya maka timbulah bad sector, bad sector hanya bisa dilihat jika kita check lewat scandisk. bad sector tidak bisa di isi file untuk operasional system maupun menyimpan data, sehingga akan mengurangi kapasitas hardisk itu sendiri. Karena itu di usahakan agar disediakan UPS atau External battery sebagai pengaman bila terjadi mati lampu maka komputer tetap hidup untuk beberapa waktu, sehingga masih ada kesempatan untuk mematikan komputer sesuai prosedur.
2. Stavolt, Untuk UPS yang sudah termasuk stavolt (penstabil naik-turun tegangan) tidak bermasalah, tetapi yang tidak termasuk stavolt di dalamnya maka lebih baik disediakan stavolt tambahan sebagai stabilizer, sehingga walau tegangan listrik naik-turun pun, tidak mengganggu keamanan komputer sendiri.
3. Bersihkan dari debu, biasanya CPU tower di taruh di samping meja user, di letakan dilantai sehingga kemungkinan masuknya debu kedalam CPU besar sekali, Debu sebagai penghantar panas, sehingga apa bila komponen CPU , misalnya Prosesor, walau tersembunyi debu bisa masuk juga, memori/ RAM sering kali kena debu, dan kerja komputer jadi ngadat, hang atau bahkan komputer tidak bisa dinyalakan timbul suara beep…. maka check dan segera bersihkan lah kompenen tersebut , pasang kembali dan nyalakan.
4. Hindari kena Air, tidak menutup kemungkinan keyboard tersiram air minum. Pernah kejadian keyboard saya kena air tanpa sengaja, akhirnya terjadilah konseleting pada lempegan di dalam keyboard , walau sudah dibersihkan dan dijemur sekalipun tidak bisa diperbaiki, sehingga perlu ganti baru.
5. Voltase, Untuk di Indonesia voltase memakai 220 volt, tapi untuk komputer produk Jepang masih 110 volt, sehingga bila menyalakan komputer produk Jepang, jangan lupa sediakan adapter untuk menurunkan voltase dari 220 ke110 volt. kalau tidak wah….kebakar pasti!…
6. Sengatan petir, untuk daerah rawan petir, terutama jaringan komputer yang terhubung menara yang tidak dilengkapi penangkal petir, berbahaya bila terkena petir akan merembet keseluruh jaringan. karena itu sediakan penangkal petir lebih baik.
7. Jauhkan dari medan magnetik, medan magnetik bisa mengganggu performa CPU juga monitor.
8. Demi keamanan data serta system komputer, Pasrikan sudah ada Antivirus dan selalu di update.
9. Pastikan pula ada program utilities tambahan untuk menghapus sisa registry dan sampah dari internet(cokies)