During the days of the CRT monitor, many a computer geek would place their monitor on a stand which usually had five rocker switches in the front, with labels COMPUTER, MONITOR, PRINTER, AUX 1 and AUX 2. The sixth switch, POWER, was usually in the back. These switches lit up in green, orange or red, and the power outlets were on the rear. Basically speaking,...

You’re in a bit of a bind. Your computer’s either stopped working, or it’s not working particularly well. But Google’s come to your rescue and you’re pretty sure you know what the problem is. With the instructions in hand, you immediately set out to make things right and … you make them worse. Somehow, in the act of...

In a previous article, I detailed in full how one could go about keeping their computer in top shape. What I didn’t mention, however, was that there are a few tools that’ll make the job all that much easier.  Here’s a few tools and supplies that any PC enthusiast worth his salt should never go without. Compressed Air If you’re looking to...

The first question some of you would have concerning this is the simple question of "Why?" The answer is that more people have a mix of PCs and devices these days, some of which (like a file server) a few prefer to assign a static i.e. "permanent" IP address. Can you use both static and dynamically assigned IPs addresses from your router at...

As anyone who’s used Windows built-in troubleshooting utility will know full well, it’s positively useless. The Windows Troubleshooter tries its damndest to help you with your problem, but it just doesn’t have the answer to any but the simplest of questions. And while it’s certainly possible to wait a few hours to talk to tech support,...

Aaron writes: i installed kubuntu on a flash drive so i could use on a different computer, but now the computer that i installed it on cant start without the flash drive. I have tried windows System Restore but it did not work. i would like to keep Kubuntu on the flash drive but I need the other to work with out the flash drive so if you have away to help i...

A PCMech reader writes: There’s a lot of noise and little clarity on just WHAT the "Secure Boot" portion of UEFI will mean if Microsoft insists that in order to get ‘Windows 8 Certification’ on a Motherboard or a PC (ie: Dell) Mobo makers and PC makers will be pressured to enable Secure Boot in a way that could end up restricting a...

This might be a little late in coming, but… It’s occurred to me that, when faced with the prospect of purchasing a new computer, the concept of Intel’s different processors might end up confusing quite a few people. It’s pretty obvious how their new line of processors stack up against the old (they’re better), but at the same...

It’s becoming more common that both kids and adults are (re)building PCs to specifically run Windows 95 as fun side projects. Why Win95 and not Win98? Probably because there’s just more retro flavor to running a real Win95 environment, and the fact that it’s more of a challenge. Sure, you can put together a Win98 PC easily as it has USB 2.0...

Chances are pretty good you probably have some blank CD-R discs. Maybe you bought a 100-pack spindle, only used maybe 20 or 30 of them, and the rest sit in the spindle, unloved and unused. You bought them, you you might as well use them. Before I list what you can do with those discs, it’s a good idea to check them first to make sure they’re still...