Computer Hardware

Sometimes, when a computer crashes really hard, it's easiest just to start over and reinstall the operating system. But sometimes you can't even boot the computer long enough to recover your data....

Copying or transferring digital pictures from a computer to a media disc is a convenient way to create a portable slideshow. Burning images on a CD-ROM or DVD provides compact storage while...

The laser diode inside of a CD ROM disk drive is powerful enough to cut through paper at very close range. Making a cutting laser using the CD laser diode can be done using a plastic flashlight, a...

For many years Compaq Presario computers like the V6000 have been popular choices for both home and business use. For the most part these computers were sturdy and reliable workhorses, but the...

There are times when the autorun function on a CD or DVD doesn’t work. What are the ways to troubleshoot and fix? How to fix the CD or DVD autorun in a computer.

A corrupt or failing hard drive can be difficult to troubleshoot. If the drive has not completely stopped working there may be little evidence to support replacement. A noisy drive may not be...

The booting procedure for a Gateway PC is generally seamless: Once you turn the computer on, you can sit back as your PC reads the hard drive and starts up the operating system. However, sometimes...

Computers can be a headache, but with a restore CD handy, you can get your eMachine back to shape it was in on day one. Be sure to back up all files befrore even attempting this, as the process is...

CDs are a useful medium for storing data. You can store music, documents, video and other such files on a compact disc, making it easy to back up your data in a couple of simple steps. Copying...

Compressing music onto a compact disc involves changing the bitrate setting on software for burning audio files to the disc. Bitrate is a measurement of how many units of data (bits) are...

If you're an avid PC video game player, it can be wise to invest in a good controller for your PC. These operate in much the same way that a controller for a PlayStation 3 or XBox360 does, only...

A CD writer is used to create music and data CDs. You can create personal music mixes, backup files and transport reports and other files. CDs can also be used for picture slide shows. CD writers...

Are you on the market for a new computer? Are you considering buying a notebook laptop or a netbook. Netbooks are fairly new on the scene. They are also known as mini notebooks or subnotebooks....

Hey do you want to burn CD's or DVD's while copying them, save time or just want an external DVD or CD drive in your PC, well just read along and follow these steps its easier then you think.

Digital Concept converter drives are small thumb drives used to transmit the data stored on a digital memory card onto a computer. The converter drive is connected to a standard USB port on the...

A USB Camera is often used on a PC as a "webcam." A webcam is a camera that is designed to work with a computer and show video of you for sites such as Youtube, or for messaging software such as...

Just about every aspect of a computer can be upgraded, from the amount of memory it has to the speed of the CD drive. If you are looking to install a new CD drive in your computer, it is not...

CD writers are used for creating back up copies of CDs, ripping music, placing data and photos on CDs and storing backups of files on your computer. For a CD writer to work successfully, the...

A webcam is a device that allows you to talk to people face-to-face over the Internet, as well as record videos of yourself. Because many business arenas, such as meetings and discussions, are...

Our computer storage devices can be surprisingly quirky devices. Sometimes data or settings inexplicably disappear. Other times, entire sections of the hard drive can suddenly become inaccessible....

Logitech is one of the most popular manufacturers of webcams and other computer peripherals. Installing a Logitech webcam is a simple affair that requires a basic level of computer knowledge. To...

CD writer drives use a laser to burn data onto a disc. The laser is focused through a lens that regulates the way the laser light impacts the permeable surface of the blank, recordable CD disc. A...

Whether you're reinstalling Windows, exploring Linux with the use of a LiveCD or editing the partitions on your hard drive using a program that boots from CD, it's important to know how to set...

Partitioning is quite useful. Keeping your data in a partition separate from your operating system, for example, means that if your operating system crashed completely you can reinstall without...

Booting from Windows requires that you access the BIOS (basic input/output system) of your computer. The BIOS handles the important hardware configurations of your computer. If your computer takes...

During the boot process, your computer uses information found in something called the BIOS to determine what to load first. The BIOS, which stands for Basic Input/Output System, is a small piece...

In a computer, IDE cables may be used to connect the CD/DVD drive or hard drive to the main system board (motherboard). If an accident causes a cable to become damaged, you will need to replace...

If you want to create backup copies of important files, rip CD data to your hard drive, or burn audio CDs you will need to install a CD-RW unit in your computer. To install a Memorex CD-RW...

CD-R is a recordable media with a storage capacity of 700 megabytes. To create a DVD-like disk it is necessary to write video files on a CD-R in the video CD (VCD) format. Such a disk holds up to...

If the CD-ROM in a Toshiba Satellite is faulty and there is no troubleshooting that can fix it, you'll have to replace the entire device. Though it may sound like a daunting task, because it is...

Music that's downloaded to a computer can only be of so much use to a listener. The listener can play the music through headphones and monitor speakers or channel it through an entertainment...

Even though CD players and CD-ROM drives are designed to be low-maintenance, sometimes they still need to be cleaned out. If your drive has stopped functioning properly, cleaning the drive is a...

A mouse is one of the most used pieces of computer hardware. Because of the constant use, a mouse can wear out, break and stop working, making replacement necessary. Sometimes, a user may want to...

The majority of computer cases do not require mounting brackets to install CD-ROM or other optical drives. However, certain types of "toolless" or "screwless" cases might. These cases can be...

Apple introduced the iBook laptop in 1999 and offered it through 2005 as an affordable, stylish, compact notebook computer. If the CD drive on your iBook ever malfunctions or is damaged, you may...

CD and DVD burners have become extremely inexpensive in recent years. They are so affordable that they are now included with nearly every computer. However, some small computers do not include...

Most new desktop and laptop computers contain an internal CD drive that also is capable of disc burning. With a CD burner, you can make audio CDs on your computer or back up important files to...

Formatting a hard drive with a CD is the best way to wipe out a hard drive and erase all information that has not been backed up. Let a computer hardware professional guide you through each step...

No matter how well maintained you keep your computer equipment, occasionally it will start to give you troubles. Even the smallest amount of dust or dirt entering the drive's disc tray could...

If you attempt to play a CD or DVD on your computer and the computer fails to play the disc, it may be that your system is not recognizing the CD-DVD drive. This issue often occurs during an...

Before using a CD-RW, you must erase all the information on it and format it for your operating system. Once formated, you can save files onto the disc. CD-RW is short for rewritable compact disc,...

There are two types of Iomega Zip 100 drive: external and internal. The external drive attaches to your computer through the printer parallel port or the USB port, while the internal drive is...

Most models of the IBM ThinkPad have an interchangeable drive bay that you can use to swap between floppy drives, CD or DVD drives or to add a second hard drive or battery. Depending on the model...

Compact Discs are laser-optical media used to store digital data. CD-recordable discs can be written to only once. CD-rewritable discs can be written to and erased multiple times.

CDs hold both music and file data, and can be played on computers, CD players or car media players. New technologies allow you to burn a CD on your computer. Burned CDs will usually play in any CD...

The HP DeskJet 932c is a small printer perfect for any home or small office setting. It does its job effectively until you run into the occasional errors that cause communication and printing...

The CDA, or "CD Audio," file format is what is seen by computers when a CD is inserted. This file format enables computers to play audio CDs.

Burning a copy of a computer game is a smart thing to do for a number of reasons. If you're planning on taking your game on a long trip and don't want to worry about scratching or damaging the...

Sometimes, your computer may prove to be unreliable. In this event, you want to make sure your important memories, such as your photos, are safe from the damage of technology. Burning your...

If you have an extra USB drive, it's a good idea to consider making that drive a boot drive. Having a bootable USB thumb drive can be really handy for computers that don't have a CD drive, such as...