Look For a Quiet Cooling Fan
Anyone who has a noisy computer can tell you stories about the amount of noise the cooling fan makes. However, the later model cooling fans are now quiet due to changes the manufacturers have made.
When looking for a quiet CPU cooling fan, search from one that is made out of copper instead of aluminum. The older aluminum cooling fans were notorious for being noisy, but this has been eliminated in the newer copper fans.
The newer cooling fans also spin at a slower rate than their predecessors, therefore decreasing the amount of noise they make, without decreasing the ability to cool the CPU.
Data Recovery Solutions for a Hard Drive
If the information on your hard drives is not ¡®backed up¡¯, then you might be faced with data recovery needs faster than you think.
When most people think of data recovery of a hard drive, they envision a scenario in which the computer will not boot up leaving you without access to your important files. However, there are instances such as viruses, in which a computer does boot, but access to the hard drive is not possible.
If this has happened to you, it is good advice for you to contact data recovery specialists in your area, by looking in the telephone directory or the Internet. They will be able to diagnose the problem and give you an estimate on what it will take to recover your files.
Monitor CPU Temperature
There is software on the market that quite a number of people use to monitor the temperature of the CPU using a sensor on the motherboard. This might seem like the ideal way to detect if your PC is overheating, but in reality it can give you a false reading about how hot your CPU really is.
The false reading is generated by the fact that sensors on the motherboard can be affected by the temperature in the room. A false reading can be generated if the hardware is not calibrated properly as well. It is better to use the sensor on the newer CPUs and have this read by the motherboard, rather than depend on solely on the sensor on the motherboard.
Sound Card Connections
If you were to take a look at the sound card in your computer, you would see that it has various connections attached to it. The most common connections anyone can expect would be for the speakers and microphone.
However, a sound card can also have connections for FireWire and USB, MIDI connections that can be used for synthesizer or other instruments which create music.
It is also possible to have connections that provide an input or output to the sound card such as coaxial connections. Based on this, the sound card is more complicated than it would first appear.
Troubleshooting Your Sound Card
There are many things that can cause a sound card not to work. One of the reasons for your sound card to stop working can be software related. Usually the addition or deletion of software from the computer¡¯s registry can cause the system¡¯s sound card to not function properly.
The first thing you should do when you notice the sound card is not working is to reverse the last major change you did to the computer. If this does not help, downloading the drivers for your sound card and installing them should work.
Bad Sectors on a Hard Drive
Windows XP has a utility function called Error-checking function that allows you to check for bad sectors or a hard disk drive. The Error-checking function will scan the disk drive and mark all areas it cannot read as bad sectors. This function can be accessed by right clicking the hard disk drive, and selecting ¡®Properties¡¯, and afterwards ¡®Tools¡¯. Error-checking also gives you the ability to ¡°automatically fix file system errors¡± or ¡°scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors¡±.
Some people choose to format a hard disk drive when a lot of bad sectors are apparent on the drive. However, also be aware that when there is an increase of bad sectors, this could signal the impending death of your hard drive.
Direct X Compatible Video Cards
DirectX 9.0 was first introduced by Microsoft in 1996. It gives computer users the ability to improve the way they use multimedia on their computers. The application programming interface is extremely popular with gamers, and those involved with designing games.
Video cards which are compatible for DirectX such as the XFX GeForce 6200, will not have not have software conflicts with the latest version of DirectX 9.0. Therefore, it is important to consider a DirectX compatible video card when shopping for a new one.
DirectX can give you the ability to enhance the graphics, 3D animation, or audio when playing multimedia. Not only will DirectX enhance your graphics, but you can also download the free version of this software from Microsoft.
Upgrading a Sound Card
If you have experienced reduced sound quality and would like to improve your sound, consider replacing your sound card. The type of sound that is produced depends on the specifications of each sound card.
Replacing a sound card that is still using the ISA system will greatly improve the quality of sound coming from your computer.
However, if you have an older computer, the option to replace your sound card might not be available to you. Instead the motherboard will have a sound chip, and your computer manufacturer will have information on working around it.
Defragment a Hard Drive
Defragment is a tool within Microsoft Windows that allows the user to arrange data in a more ordered fashion. It is believed that as we open programs on the hard drive, sections of the programs are scattered onto different areas of the hard drive. The defragmenter will put the sections of the files together and ¡°free up¡± more space on the hard drive.
To defrag your hard drive in Windows XP, follow these simple commands,
Click ¡®Start¡¯ on the desktop, and then click ¡®All Programs¡¯. Afterwards go to ¡®Accessories¡¯, and over to ¡®System Tools¡¯, and double click on Disk ¡®Defragmenter¡¯.
The Disk Defragmenter program opens showing all the hard drives available to defragment. You can choose to ¡®Analyze¡¯ a drive to see if it needs to be defragged, or go straight to defragmenting the drive you selected.
The neat feature with using disk defragmenter is that it gives you the ability to see the amount of disk space that is being used before and after you defrag.
The Cost of Buying a Video Card
If you have decided to purchase a new video card, you should investigate the cost of this new card. Graphic designers or others involved in creating video as a career will tell you to purchase a video card costing more than you would like to spend.
However, if the video card is only needed for multimedia on a home computer, finding a more affordable video card is best. Video cards usually sell for between $100-$200. For this price range, it is possible to buy a fairly good video card to suit your family¡¯s needs with at least 128 megabytes of video memory, but the high-end cards at 256 megabytes can cost between $400-$500.
Selecting The Right CPU Cooling Fan
When building a system, installing a CPU cooling fan is essential. There are numerous metal parts within a computer that give off heat. As the speeds increase for the rate at which computers process information, the amount of heat the system produces also increases as well.
Therefore, it is important to select a CPU cooling fan that will constantly shift heat from the system and help it cool off. Some people tend to choose a CPU cooling fan based on price or how sophisticated the cooling fan looks. However, these methods are not foolproof and you can end up buying a CPU cooling fan that looks nice but does not do its job.
When looking for a cooling fan ask around for suggestions, and it is highly advised that you read reviews about the fan you are interested in purchasing. The ideal cooling fan should be easy to install, and provide long hours of cooling for your CPU. Other characteristics to look for when buying a CPU cooling fan are one, which is made of copper, and quiet while operating.
Formatting a Hard Drive
If you have just bought or assembled a brand new computer without any software installed on the hard drive, you will need to format the hard drive before installing your operating system. You can also format a hard drive when there is a software problem on the drive. However, it's important to note that formatting involves erasing any files that are present on a hard drive and starting over with a ¡°clean slate¡±, and it should only be done with the understanding that the drive will be left empty after you format.
Formatting a hard drive is a simple process. There is software available that can help with this, or using Windows XP a hard drive can be formatted. Depending on your file system, to format your hard drive, place the Windows XP setup CD in the CD-ROM and boot for this drive.
For example, for the FAT 32 file system, select the option to enter the ¡°Recovery Console¡±, and from here enter the ¡°Format¡± command and the drive name you would like to format, and hit ¡°Enter¡±.
The Disk Cleanup Utility
A handy feature in Windows XP operating system is the Disk Cleanup Utility. This utility allows the computer user to remove unwanted files for multiple areas with a single click. The Disk Cleanup Utility can be reached by going to the ¡®Start¡¯ menu, then highlighting ¡®Accessories¡¯, ¡®System Tools¡¯, and finally ¡®Disk Cleanup¡¯.
A window opens asking you to select the drive you would like to cleanup. Usually it will show all of the hard drives on your computer. Select the drive you would like to clean and press ¡®OK¡¯.
Another window opens showing areas where files can be deleted safely. These areas include folders on the drive such as Downloaded Program Files, Offline Web Pages, and the Recycle Bin. Highlight with a checkmark the areas you would like to cleanup and press ¡®OK¡¯.
The Disk Cleanup Utility will confirm if you are sure you would like to ¡®perform these actions¡¯. Press ¡®Yes¡¯ again to accept and it will remove the unwanted files from your hard drive, emptying the areas you highlighted.