tech sectiontech sectionAlthough Dell is one of the largest computer manufacturers in the world, the company outsources the production of motherboards for its systems to companies such as Asus, Foxconn, Intel and many others. On many Dell motherboards, you'll usually find at least one Aux_Pwr port, or an auxiliary power connector. Depending on which Dell motherboard in the computer you own, the Aux_Pwr ports may receive power from the power supply for the motherboard and processor or provide needed current to other accessory or cooling devices.
Your computer's recording software normally picks up input from your microphone. Even when you play music through your speakers, such as from an Internet radio station, your program continues to use your microphone, ignoring audio from your sound card. You can edit your audio settings to record anything you hear through your speakers, enabling you to record Internet radio music and programs. The audio will be saved to your PC's hard drive so you can listen to it repeatedly while offline.
Western Digital's Passport range of hard drives are portable 2.5-inch disks that can be powered from a single USB socket and require no additional software to run. The drives are available in a variety of colors, storage sizes and designs. If a Passport drive such as the 320GB edition refuses to stop, it is likely the drive is still being used by a program or a background application on your PC.
The demand for data storage depends greatly on the industry and focus of an individual business. In analyzing 2009 data from the International Data Corporation market research firm, Storage Strategies' Steve Mackie predicted that "entertainment broadcasting, medical, legal and insurance (companies) can expect to see data growth rates over 120 percent year on year," due to their intense usage of space-hogging media such as video and music files. In an attempt to prevent this flood of data from overwhelming their systems, many network administrators impose limits on users' access to storage and other network resources.
When a computer needs more space, creating a slave hard drive to hold just data and no programs is an alternative to buying a bigger hard drive. Increase your hard drive's capacity with the advice of a computer hardware professional in this free video on computer hardware basics.
In order to erase files off of a hard drive, drag a box around selected files and drop them into the recycle bin, or select "Delete." Discover why a recycle bin needs to be emptied to permanently delete files with help from a software developer in this free video on tech support.
Cryptic, baffling error alerts can make working with a computer a challenge -- take the "unsupported storage controller" message, for instance. Essentially, this message indicates a compatibility issue between a specific type of software and your computer's storage system settings. In some cases, simple troubleshooting procedures remedy the problem. If they don't, you may need to contact the tech support department of your software provider.
The Any DVD Tray application from Sly Soft enables you to play Blu-ray and DVD discs in any region and bypass the copyright protection on the discs. Certain circumstances in Windows 7 could cause the application to malfunction and cause a "Crypt32" error. There are multiple solutions to this error that get the application running properly again.
ProCurve Manager is an application designed by Hewlett-Packard for managing computer networks of varying sizes. Among its features are auto-discovery of network devices and monitoring of the devices on the network. If you're just getting started with the platform, the first steps involve setting up the program on your computer. From there, you'll have a host of options for adding and keeping track of the devices connected to your network.
You can format any hard drive on a Windows-based PC using the Disk Management utility, as long as Windows is not currently using the drive. Formatting allows you to clear all data from a drive, making it invisible to the operating system. While formatting, you can also divide a physical hard drive into separate partitions, which will behave as independent or virtual drives. Partitions not only allow you to better organize your files and applications, they can also improve computer performance and make disk maintenance easier.
The Boxee Beta software download became available on the Internet in 2008, creating somewhat of a sensation because the software turned your PC into a streaming video device capable of pumping out high-definition (HD) media content. Streaming was not new: The X-Box XBMC offered it in 2005. But the high definition aspect was novel at the time.
The DataBurst Cache and the L2 cache are data storage and retrieval mechanisms within some Dell computers. The two technologies combine to create an efficient data-relay system between two main components of the computer: the hard drive and the CPU. Your computer's cache system is a vital ingredient in fast program and file-launch times.
Database administration requires managing and organizing files, even though the database itself exists to perform this task. While the database can manage files and relationships within its own context, the database administrator must manage the implementation, migration and physical constraints of files in the database. For example, the database uses tablespaces to organize files, but the administrator must monitor these tablespaces to ensure that they continue to function properly.
Though other storage media options are available, the majority of the data stored on computers is stored on hard disk drives. Creating smaller formatted partitions on large-capacity hard drives aids in data organization. Partitioning also allows installation of different programs or operating systems on the same drive. The data stored in these partitions clusters in different ways depending on the operating system and partition format type.
The Disk Utility on a Mac computer allows you to format and partition a hard drive, including external drives or flash drives. Formatting a hard drive clears data from the drive so it is no longer visible to the computer. By partitioning, you can divide a hard drive into sections. Each partition acts as if it were a different drive and can be mounted and unmounted independently in the Finder. If you want to permanently delete files to prevent others from recovering them, it's important to use the advanced security format options to write over the data on the disk.
Solid-state drives, or SSDs, have a significant performance advantage over traditional mechanical hard drives. SSDs are available for the PCI-Express interface, also known as PCIe, as well as the Serial Advanced Technology Attachment, or SATA, interface used for traditional hard disks. The SSDs with the PCIe interface offer speed and packaging benefits over their SATA counterparts.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z60m is a notebook computer with a 15.4-inch screen, an Intel Pentium M or Celeron M processor and an ATI or Intel graphics adapter. On its hard drive is a hidden partition containing a copy of the computer's original hard drive contents, which can be used to return the machine to its factory settings.
The ASUS P5B uses the basic input/output system to control the hardware connected to the board. The motherboard manufacturer releases regular upgrades to the BIOS to improve hardware support and fix old bugs. While these updates to the software are designed to reduce system errors, some versions can cause new issues, while repairing old ones.
Owners of ThinkPad T2X series laptops, including the T20, have often reported that the battery or hard drive light blinks when the "Power" button is pressed, but the machine will not start. Referred to as the “Blink of Death” (BoD), this unpredictable malfunction occurs without warning. Its cause has never been officially released, but knowledgeable owners have reported some success with their own techniques.
The Microsoft Windows Installer Error 1320 may occur when you attempt to install software on your computer. For example, when you attempt to install the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software by IBM, you may receive an error message similar to "Error 1320. The specified path is too long. C:\ProgramData\Application Data\SPSS." Several other programs that you attempt to install or uninstall an application may also produce the MSI 1320 Error.
The ASUS NB probe helps you monitor the performance of your ASUS notebook or netbook. It allows you to check whether your machine is operating at its limit or at a safe level. The software also alerts you if the machine nears maximum performance. You can then use this information to find any abnormal processes or problems with your computer.
When purchasing a new hard drive for your computer, there are multiple factors to consider including both the capacity of the hard drive and the cache size. Knowing what the cache size is and how it benefits you can help you decide if the hard drive is worth the expense.
Most TriGem Averatec notebook, desktop and netbook computers have at least two universal serial bus ports to connect peripheral devices to. Almost all peripheral devices -- including mice, keyboards, external drives and Bluetooth adapters -- use USB ports, so the universal serial bus is one of the most important technologies used in the computer. If the Averatec fails to detect USB devices, look for software and hardware issues that might hurt USB operation.
An Ultra DMA-to-SATA converter allows you to connect a Serial ATA hard drive to a motherboard that has IDE drive connectors and only supports the older Ultra DMA transfer mode. While an Ultra DMA-to-SATA converter allows you to use a hard drive that otherwise would not work in your computer, it will not allow the computer to use all of the features available in computers with native SATA support.
A CGI, or Common Gateway Interface, proxy enables its users to access any website that would otherwise be inaccessible. Some websites and Youtube videos are blocked in certain countries. By using a CGI proxy server, you can allow your users access to these sites and videos and also protect their privacy by hiding their IP address. You just need a Web hosting account and the CGI proxy script.
If you have ever started a computer and have seen a “Primary Hard Drive Not Found” or “Primary Hard Drive Initialization Error” message, you probably know just how scary those words are. The hard drive not only contains your Windows operating system, but probably stores priceless personal data as well. If you see the error on your Dell Dimension 4300 desktop system, there is a chance the drive is defective and needs replacement. However, before you start panicking, troubleshoot the problem and determine if it is a hardware failure or just an issue with system settings.
The Glasklart theme is a stylish theme that will change your backgrounds, the aspect of your icons and even the choice of colors. Installing the theme using WinSCP requires access to a computer and an USB cable to connect the iPhone to the computer. Additional software is also required, but the end result is well worth the time you spend installing the Glasklart theme.
A conventional 2.5-inch notebook hard drive operates at 5400 or 7200 RPM, which refers to the rotational speed of the drive's internal platters. If all other aspects of two hard drives are equal, a 7200 RPM hard drive offers data transfer speeds superior to those of a 5400 RPM hard drive. However, the higher rate of speed requires more power, translating to increased heat production.
XSN refers to a specific type of file, used exclusively with a Microsoft Office program called InfoPath. The XSN file format contains several smaller files and parts that are essential to building a project within InfoPath. Third-party programs are unable to open a XSN file at the time of publication.
Pre-built computers frequently contain hard drives with hidden volumes storing recovery information such as the operating system, device drivers and bundled applications. The hidden volume consumes a portion of the hard drive's available storage space, but it enables the restoration of your computer to its original factory state without an operating system disc.
Your iPhone's contact list is an essential feature -- information such as phone numbers, addresses and birth dates is all stored in a contact's profile. If you no longer need a particular contact, deleting her profile forever takes just a few seconds. At present, there is no way to delete all contacts at the same time. When you want to clear out a large number of contacts, you must manually delete each profile one at a time.
Promethean is a manufacturer of digital, interactive boards that let you write on their surfaces using an electronic pen and transfer the writing to your computer. The devices are white in color and the pen works like a computer mouse. Promethean boards connect to one of your computer’s Universal Serial Bus or USB ports and are available in a variety of sizes and models.
A type of protocol for connecting portable music and storage devices to your Windows system, Media Transfer Protocol also transfers content between the devices and your computer. A MTP device includes a built-in hard drive and device drivers that load automatically from the device, once you connect it to your computer. The protocol is the opposite of the Mass Storage Class protocol used by flash-based devices that do not contain built-in hard drives or device drivers that load from the device.
500GB FreeAgent external hard drives such as GoFlex are powered by USB 2.0 or 3.0 ports. However, common power problems are usually caused by issues with cables and USB connections. If the computer powers the external drive, it appears as a hard disk in Windows Explorer or on the desktop if you're using a Mac. However, if the device won't power, Seagate provides solutions to solve connection problems.
When you click on your main hard drive folder, you should see a list of basic folders including "Program Files," "Documents and Settings" and "Windows." You may wonder what a random ".rnd" file extension is when it appears on the main hard drive. The RND file was created from a software installation and is harmless to your computer.
The Toshiba Satellite A135-S4487 comes with a 100GB serial advanced technology attachment drive; some models also include a secondary 120GB SATA device. Modern hard drives use one of two technologies to read and write data: traditional drives use disk platters, which write and read information using magnetic hot spots; others use microchips, like USB flash drives, and contain no moving parts. The former produces a lot of noise when performing some tasks, but certain sounds indicate a problem with the drive.
Software or hardware conflicts can cause an Asus PC to freeze or crash when entering or attempting to wake from standby. Windows 7 uses power management settings that can interfere with the operation of certain hardware devices; when the computer attempts to enter standby, the connected devices malfunction, causing the PC to freeze. Changes to the system or its files can also prevent the PC from sleeping.
The "lvresize" function resizes the Linux logical volume manager for a hard disk drive. The disk management system uses a set amount of space assigned to the hard disk user, so you can store your data without running out of space. If you need to resize this space to expand the volume or make is smaller, you use the lvresize function in the Linux terminal.
While most any computer hardware, including a bad hard drive, can cause a parity error, it's not the only thing that causes this error and it’s not the most typical cause. A failing or faulty motherboard, a corrupted operating system or even a memory stick that isn't working right will cause a parity error. Parity error occurs in the computer's memory.
Proprietary software originally designed by IBM, Predictive Failure Analysis provides a technician with advance warning of failures in specific computer components. Originally, PFA was used for predicting hard drive failures, but over the years the PFA software has grown to include central processing unit and page memory errors, errors with fans, power supplies, software and voltage regulator monitors.
The Averatec 2300 notebook, released by TriGem in 2008, features a dual-core AMD Turion processor and an NVidia GeForce Go 6100 graphics cards. TriGem positioned the 2300 as a lightweight and affordable laptop with features to please the techies of the time, including 1GB of RAM, a 100 GB hard drive and a dual-layer DVD burner. Like virtually any computer, however, the Averatec 2300 is susceptible to some common problems, especially as it ages.
Released in 2007, the music simulation and rhythm game "Rock Band" allows you to play your favorite songs as a guitarist, bassist, drummer, or singer. For the most accurate experience, the game requires expensive special controllers designed to mimic each instrument. The drums, for example, are plastic but contain sensors that react as you strike them in accordance with the on-screen instructions. As you play the game and master your drumming skills, you can opt to save your progress, scores and achievements to your game console's hard drive.
If you're new to using a laptop, some of the symbols found around the keyboard and laptop might befuddle you. The symbols identify the various purposes of certain buttons, ports and plugs so you know how to use your laptop. By better understanding what each grouping of symbols mean, you'll know how to interact with your computer to unlock its full functionality, regardless if you're using your laptop for work or personal applications.
Drupal is a free, open-source content management system solution that allows website owners and developers to create and edit dynamic websites from an online dashboard. The software is written in the PHP programming language and relies on a database to store the data of the system. All PHP files within the Drupal installation are automatically configured to communicate with the database. The Drupal bootstrap command allows you to connect PHP files that reside outside of the Drupal installation.
The Nokia 6165 and 6165i cellular phone models contain Bluetooth wireless technology that lets you connect to earpieces and transfer data with another Bluetooth device. The phone also contains a built-in Universal Serial Bus port and an extendable antenna but no external antenna connector. The Nokia 6165’s built-in antenna is non-removable and a key component in the phone.
During a system defragmentation, your computer's operating system organizes a hard drive's fragmented files so that they become contiguous. This means that the computer moves all of the file's individual sections so that they are adjacent to one another. This is beneficial because it makes life much easier for your computer and the hard drive. It should be performed regularly.
The Patriot Box Office, also referred to as PBO, is a media player that supports a wide range of digital media, allowing you to view computer-based digital files on your home television in resolutions up to 1080p. You can view media via the PBO by using one of its three USB ports or by streaming content through your wired or wireless network. As a third option, you can also install a 2.5” SATA hard drive. This option allows you to save digital content directly to the hard drive for easier access, but you must consider several points prior to using…
OSD, or object-based storage device, refers to the data storage structure of a computer's hard disk drive. Hard drives that include OSD support organize data logically according to the content and access patterns of files. The OSD hard drive standard attempts to improve on the performance limitations of the Small Computer System Interface hard drive standard that has been in place since 1983.
Most USB memory stick drives come preformatted by the manufacturer, so you shouldn’t need to format the device for everyday use. You might need to format the drive if you want to use it as the backup location for your computer’s main hard drive, or you want to use the device on a computer running a different operating system. Formatting a memory stick wipes all data, so always transfer files that you want to keep before formatting the device.
Microsoft’s MS-DOS operating system and its variants use a distinctive format for navigating file directories, creating a “path” through nested subdirectories to the target file. While command line interfaces have largely given way to graphic user interfaces, many aspects of the old syntax still exist in today’s operating systems and you can still use it inside any Windows product. Understanding the syntax used by DOS can help you navigate unfamiliar folder structures.
