Noisy computers are fairly common, which makes them no less annoying. Most of the time the noise is harmless, but it is worth investigating to make sure there are no outstanding problems.  You’re on the right track with the fans - most of the time, computer noise is caused by the fans inside the case.

Possible Cooling Problems

It’s possible that your computer is overheating and that the fans are running constantly. Gaming, videos and graphics can put stress on the computer and cause it to run hot. First, take a look around the computer - is it sitting on a soft surface like a carpet or bedding? There needs to be some airflow on and around the unit.  It should be sitting on a hard surface or elevated just a little off the floor. Check the vents on the side and make sure they aren’t blocked by anything and that air can flow in and out of the unit.

Temperature Check

If you’re sure there is adequate airflow, you can monitor the PC’s internal temperature in BIOS or download a program that will let you easily see the information. There is a lot of controversy about what is a “safe” temperature, but you can find some temperature recommendations by CPU type and then looking at this chart on Technibble.

Keep it Cool

In addition to good airflow, there are other things you can do to cool down the computer. You will need to take the case off, so if you’re not comfortable rooting around in your computer, you might want to get some tech help. Take the case off and get a can of compressed air. Blow the dust off the fans, the heatsinks and the power supply. Make sure the vents are clear of dust and debris. You can also set up a desk fan outside the unit to pull hot air out, but then you have to deal with that fan noise as well.

Heatsinks

You may want to see if you have enough heatsinks.  There are two kinds of heatsinks. An active heatsink is a device that attaches to the processor for attracting and dissipating heat from the unit that it is attached to and into the air to be distributed with a fan. A passive heatsink works the same way, but does not have a fan attached to it. All heatsink devices need to have some sort of thermal compound on it. This compound creates a seal between the heatsink and the part of the unit that it is cooling. Most new heatsinks have a rubber thermal compound pad that is already attached while others will require that you use a thin layer of thermal paste. If you remove the heatsink from the unit, you need to put more thermal compound on it, even those that came with a pad. Make sure you apply only a thin layer - too much will stop the heatsink from working properly.

A noisy fan means that the computer is working as it should - make sure that the fans are clean and working properly and that you have all of the cooling measures in place that your computer can hold. Once your computer is cooled properly, the fans will probably not run as often and the noise should subside. 

Troubleshooting DVD Drive

At this point, it’s probably too late to have the Geek Squad come back out and double-check their work. In fact, Best Buy’s Geek Squad’s warranty is 30 days. So unless you want to pay the Geek Squad again, you’re likely on your own. The problem could be as simple as a jumper setting needing to be set or you may need to update the DVD drives’ device drivers. Let’s explore the options.

The Device Manager

First, let’s see if your computer recognizes the DVD drive. The Device Manager is just the tool for our initial investigation. Go to the Control Panel and click on the Device Manager. Click the plus sign next to DVD / CD-ROM drives. Are your DVD drives showing up? Is there a yellow caution sign next to either drive?

Now, double-click on one of the drives to view more information. The first screen you will see is the status tab. Does the status message indicate a problem or is “the device working properly”? Write down the manufacturer and model number of the drive as later you may need to search for updated device drivers. Do the same for the other drive.

If the devices do not appear in Device Manager at all, you will need to open the computer case and make sure that the drives are properly connected. One should be set as a master and the other as a slave. These settings are typically set using jumpers on the drives. In addition, the drives should be physically connected to the motherboard. If you are comfortable opening your computer’s case, you can manually inspect the drives yourself. Make sure to take appropriate safety precautions including unplugging the computer and grounding yourself.

If the devices appear in Device Manager and error messages are present, follow the instructions provided by the Device Manager to troubleshoot the problem. If not, let’s try updating the device drivers.

Updating Device Drivers

One easy way to quickly “freshen” up a malfunctioning drive is to uninstall it in Device Manager and reboot the system. This forces Windows to detect “new” hardware and install the latest device drivers. Simply right-click the drive in Device Manager and choose Uninstall. Reboot the computer and let Windows reinstall the software.

Windows uses drivers in its plug and play database. If you’d rather check with your drives’ manufacturers, you can do so by visiting the manufacturers’ Web sites. Use the information you wrote down earlier to search for updated device drivers for your drive. You’ll need to download and install these drivers according to each manufacturer’s instructions. Use extreme care to select the correct drivers for your model as well as for your operating system.

Common Laptop Startup Issues

Unfortunately, a number of issues could be preventing your laptop from starting up ranging from power supply problems, bad connections, or failed hardware such as the motherboard, video card, or hard drive. The trick is to figure out what is causing the problem and then addressing that issue.

Power / Battery Problems

Let’s take a look at the power supply itself. Are all of the cords secure? Does the power light on the “brick” turn on? Have you tried using a different electrical outlet? You can also try powering on the computer with the battery fully removed. If the laptop powers on with the battery removed, then the battery may be bad or interfering with startup somehow.

You may want to do a “laptop reset” at this point as well. With the laptop off, its battery removed, and the power cord plugged in, press and hold the power button for a full 60 seconds. This “resets” the laptop by clearing any retained power within the computer that could be interfering with startup.

Bad Connections

Bad connections can also cause startup failures. For example, if the internal power connector is loose, then the laptop will have power problems. It could be a faulty switch or a connector that needs to be soldered to the motherboard. Similarly, connections to video cards or even the hard drive could be to blame. Inspecting the internal components of a laptop is trickier than opening up a desktop’s computer case. Inspection ports are usually located on the bottom of a laptop though these do little to address components hidden under the keyboard. This is best left to an experienced computer technician.

Failed Hardware

Another common cause of laptop startup errors is failed hardware including the motherboard, hard drive, or video card.

In short, if resetting the laptop doesn’t revive it, a trip to the computer repair shop is your best bet. Technicians can try a different AC adapter, check for loose connections, and test your hardware.

A number of potential causes could be to blame including excessive heat, hardware issues, a bad power switch, a reboot loop issue, or even a computer virus. Where to start? Let’s start with excessive heat.

Excessive Computer Heat

If a computer runs too hot, shutdown issues are common. It’s a form of self-preservation. Check to see if your computer’s fan whirs on when you power up the computer? Is it clogged with dust? Most likely. Fans can become so clogged with debris that they can no longer spin. For example, human or pet hair is notorious for stopping computer fans from running. Use a can of compressed air to blow out the debris or have your computer professionally cleaned. This is a good first step for overheated computers. Filetonic Tech Jock Kat DeLong discusses overheated computers in greater detail in this “Overheated Computers” post.

Malfunctioning Power Switch

The power switch could be the culprit as well. A loose connection or a mechanical issue may be powering down your computer. You can inspect the button yourself by first disconnecting the computer from its power source and opening the case. Are the connectors firmly in place? Any broken parts? Contact your computer’s manufacturer for a replacement switch. If you have a laptop, this is an extremely common problem. Your computer repair shop may be able to solder the wires back into position.

Reboot Loops

Does the computer try to reboot when it shuts down? If it’s in a continuous reboot loop, let us know as there are several known issues with reboot loops and different fixes available. For now, you can try resetting the CMOS. This involves opening the computer case and, depending on the type of CMOS you have, either removing the round CMOS battery or setting the “Clear CMOS” jumper on the motherboard from pins 2-3 to pins 1-2. In either case, wait about 30 seconds and then reinsert the battery or move the pins back to their original position.

Computer Viruses

Finally, computer viruses and Trojans can cause all kinds of trouble including power issues. Since your computer never fully turns on, it’s more likely a hardware or mechanical issue rather than a computer virus, but it doesn’t hurt to try booting up from a bootable virus scan CD. You’ll need to make one using a different computer. You can read how to do this by viewing this Filetonic article and scrolling down to the “Running a bootable antivirus product” section.

Even though we don’t know the brand of the mouse, Windows XP (and other versions as well) comes with a useful utility for configuring the mouse. It sounds like the mouse has been set up with different configurations than you’re used to. For example, if your old computer was set up to open folders by double-clicking but this one is set up to open the folders by single-clicking, you should be able to change your current mouse settings to meet your preferences.

Setting Folder Options

Windows comes with a Control Panel containing a variety of utilities that you can use to customize your computer and its various components and settings. Within the Control Panel are two areas that we will want to explore as we attempt to configure your mouse: Folder Options and Mouse. Open the Control Panel by clicking Start > Control Panel. Now, click on the Folder Options icon. This is where you will tell Windows to open folders by double-clicking rather than single-clicking. The General tab of Folder Options has an area labeled “Click items as follows.” Make your selection and click OK.

The Mouse Properties Dialog Box

Within the Control Panel, you will also find an icon for configuring your mouse, aptly labeled “Mouse.” Click on Start, click Control Panel, and click the Mouse icon. The Mouse Properties dialog box opens, allowing you to change the basic mouse and pointer features. Explore each of the tabs in search of an option that parks your mouse. This dialog box does not contain a section that controls parking the mouse, but it does have a few neat features that you might want to adjust for a better mouse experience. Depending on the brand of mouse, an extra tab may appear that offers additional configuration options for your specific mouse. If so, explore that tab in search of a park feature.

Mouse Configuration Software

The next thing to check is to see if you can find any mouse configuration software on your computer. Obviously, it helps to know the brand so that you can look for Intellipoint or Microsoft folders. You may be able to identify the brand by going into Device Manager (also in your Control Panel usually after clicking System) and looking under the Mouse category. If your computer has software related to your mouse, it may have a setting for parking the mouse. If not, check the System Tray area for an icon that represents the pointer. If you find such an icon, try right-clicking it to see if an option exists for stopping the pointer from parking itself there.

This is actually a pretty common problem that has several possible causes and several possible solutions. You will need to do a little troubleshooting in order to find the one that works for your situation.

Before you start, make sure that you have checked the obvious - check any connections for speakers or other sound devices and make sure that everything is plugged in properly. If you are using speakers, try another set if you can to rule out any hardware issues.

Soundcard

My best guess is that you are having an issue with your soundcard. I don’t know if you are running Vista, but this is a particularly popular issue for Vista users, especially those who are experiencing the problem after installing a Service Pack for Vista. The first thing to try is uninstall your driver and then let Vista reload it. The process is basically the same for XP, but I’m going to give you Vista instructions here.

Go to Start and type in Device Manager in the box. In the Device Manager box, expand the Sound, Video and game controllers. Find the audio device and right click it, choosing Properties. Click on the Driver tab and choose Uninstall. Clear any check marks by “Delete the driver software for this device” and click OK.

Go back to the Device Manager box and click on Action, then choose “Scan for hardware changes”.  You should now see the sound card device being reinstalled automatically.

Check Defaults

After you install a service pack or an update, the default sound device may have changed, so you should make sure that it is set correctly.  Go to Start and type in Sound in the search box. In the results, choose Sound. Click on the Playback tab. Usually, the default device is Speakers - see if there is a check mark by the device you want as the default. Select the device and choose Properties. Click on Advanced and make sure that the Default Format is set to what you expect.

Update BIOS

If neither of the above solutions works, you can update the BIOS for your particular computer. Get the make and model of your laptop or PC, go to the manufacturer’s website and see if there is an update for the BIOS for you to download.

I think that reinstalling the sound card will solve your problem, but if you are still having issues with your sound, please let us know.

Firmware flashing requires exactness for the device and the operating system. One mistake and the device becomes a brick. However, before exploring firmware updates, let’s examine some other possibilities.

Burning Movies

If you’re burning copies of commercial movies on DVD, then there lies the problem as commercial DVDs have copy protection. Does the DVD burner successfully burn home movies or data?

Troubleshooting DVD Formats and Discs

If you’re having trouble burning non-copy protected information, then let’s move on. I assume that you’re burning the movies in the HP’s DVD drive and that you are using the correct type of disc for the formats that the drive can support such as DVD-R or DVD+R. Since the burn indicates success, I imagine that you’re using the correct format. However, I’ve had to throw away many successfully burned CDs and DVDs that simply refused to play despite the “success” message. Most of them had to do with inferior CD or DVD products. Switching brands often led to success. If you haven’t tried a premium brand, you might consider buying a few blank discs from different vendors.  

DVD Burn Speeds

Another thing to try is using a slower burn speed. Even if your drive is capable of high speed burns, try burning a disc at the slowest setting - with nothing else going on in your computer. Close down all programs and dedicate all resources to a slow burn.

DVD Drive Device Drivers

Before considering a firmware upgrade, consider upgrading the DVD drive’s device drivers. This can be done from the Windows Device Manager. The easiest way to do this is to go to Control Panel > System > Device Manager and find the CD/DVD drive in the list. Right click the drive and choose Uninstall. Next, reboot your computer and let Microsoft detect the drive and load the appropriate device drivers. If you’re uncomfortable with this, right-click the device and choose Update Driver Software. Follow the prompts and choose the Automatic option. You will need to reboot.

Updated drivers may be enough to get your DVD drive to burn and playback discs properly. For example, if this problem is a known issue that HP has since solved, the update should take care of it.

DVD Drive Firmware

Firmware updates are more drastic than driver updates - and risky. Fortunately DVD burners aren’t terribly expensive and relatively easy to install, so the worse case is that you fry the drive and need to replace it. We don’t want that to happen though. HP’s Web site lists several HP DV6000 models (DV6000, DV6000t, and DV6000z). I looked up the DV6000 and found that it comes in a variety of operating systems including Windows 2000, XP 32-bit, XP 64-bit, Vista 32-bit, and Vista 64-bit. Head to HP.com and look up your exact model and then click the Drivers and Downloads link. From there, choose your correct operating system. This will list all available drivers and downloads for your exact model and operating system. I checked a couple different operating systems and did not see any CD/DVD drive updates.    

TSSTcorp stands for Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology Corporation. I was unable to find firmware updates on either the TSSTorage.com or Toshiba.com websites.

Since neither HP or Toshiba appears to offer a firmware update, try a different brand of disc and different burn speeds. Also, make sure that the disc is “finalized” after the burn session as it may not playback until the session has been closed. Make sure that you choose the appropriate DVD type such as “movie disc” rather than data disc. Hopefully, it’s a matter of a batch of bad discs and you’ll soon be burning successfully.

Identifying a Computer’s Processor Configuration

Your computer has a couple of built-in utilities that will tell you about your processor’s configuration. In addition, third party utilities are also available that will give you even more details.

Using the Control Panel to Find Processor Information

For starters, let’s take a peek at the Control Panel. Head on over and click the System icon. This will open a window detailing basic system information about your computer. If you have Windows Vista, you’ll need to scroll down to System and look under the Processor field. You should see the brand, model, and speed such as “Genuine Intel CPU T2060 @1.60 GHz.”

Using Device Manager to Find Processor Information

You can also use the Device Manager to locate this same information as well as view the processor’s current status. Go to Control Panel > System > Device Manager and then scroll through the category list for Processors. Double-click the listed processor to find out details about its status or work with its device drivers. If you want even more information, go to the Details tab and use the dropdown list to view categorized information about the device.

Using System Information to Find Processor Information

If you have Windows Vista, another tool provides additional details: System Information. Go to Control Panel > System > Performance > Advanced Tools > View Advanced Details in System Information (or enter “System Information” in the Search bar and click the icon when it appears).

When System Information opens, view the System Summary and look under “Processor.” Here, you’ll see much of the same information offered in the Control Panel’s System display. But you may see even more such as: Genuine Intel(R) CPU T2060  @ 1.60GHz, 1600 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 2 Logical Processor(s). You will also see the BIOS version and date and other information.

Using Third Party Software to Identify the CPU Configuration

Finally, third party does exist that will identify your processor configuration. One such program is called CPU-Z from a CPUID.com.

I hope my original advice helped you some. Let’s see if we can answer these questions. Because the model you have is for the UK market, I had to base most of my answers on the US versions of that laptop, but most answers will apply for the Sony Vaio VGN SZ line as a whole.

Hard Drive Upgrades

The example I gave you on the hard drive was based on replacing the existing one with a Seagate 100GB hard drive with 7200 RPM. After looking at all of the compatible hard drives, it looks like you can go up to 500GB SATA/300 7200 RPM if you don’t mind spending the extra money, or go for a 250 GB SATA/150 7200if you want to go for something in between. Like most things, this decision comes down to need and how much money you want to spend.

Ghosting Hard Drives 

As for copying your hard drive to the new hard drive, there are a few ways to go about it. Most people use a program like Norton Ghost or Acronis True Images. It is easier to ghost on a PC because they have extra IDE ports to copy to. On a laptop, you will connect the old hard drive to the PC then use the ghost software to copy the old hard drive information to the new one and then install the new one in your laptop. If you already own the ghosting software, this is probably the way to go.  If you need some help, Radified.com has forums that deal with the use of all versions of Norton Ghost.  You will also need two laptop hard drive to EIDE adaptors.

Ghosting Software

If you haven’t bought ghosting software yet, you may want to look into getting a data transfer kit that is easy to use and is specifically for your situation. You transfer the data from the old drive to the new one using an external enclosure and a USB cable connected to the laptop’s port. You then run the cloning software that is included to copy the info from one hard drive to another. You can then use the enclosure and the old hard drive as an external backup for your laptop. There is a popular one called EZ-up that is available from Drive Solutions for about $45/US.

Wireless Card Upgrades

Changing the wireless card is really up to you. I often subscribe to the “if it ain’t broke” theory on these things, but if you are having trouble with the one that came with the Vaio, then by all means change it. From what I can tell, the Intel you name should work with your laptop - many Vaio models are shipping with that particular card installed, and it should work with the Intel Centrino Duo technology. Apparently Intel is keeping the support and drivers for XP, even though for awhile it looked like they were going strictly with Vista.

Hope that helped and you get the laptop you want after all of these upgrades.

Installing DVD Drive Basics

Installing a CD or DVD drive is an excellent first project for anyone who wants to become more hands-on with their computer. Computer cases generally have a dedicated spot for the drive if the computer wasn’t originally equipped with a drive. When replacing a malfunctioning or obsolete drive, you simply remove the old one and insert the new one (with a few additional steps to finish the job).

Step One: Preparation

Since you will need to physically open the computer case, the most important step is to unplug the computer from its power source. You don’t want to risk your life for a DVD installation. Next, ground yourself so that you don’t also risk damaging the computer’s delicate components from static electricity.

Look for the screws that hold the computer’s cover in place and carefully remove them. Use a magnetic screwdriver if you have one as it’s quite easy for those screws to fall into the depths of the computer.

Step Two: Removing the Old Drive

Once the computer is opened, locate the old disk drive and remove any screws holding it in place. Unplug the cables from the drive to the motherboard and power supply, making a note of which cable is which. You’ll later attach your new drive to these same cables. Slide out the old drive.

If your computer never had a drive, you’ll need to locate the area where the new drive will go and knock out the cover on the face of the tower. This is usually a plastic cover that unsnaps out of position. Locate the cables that connect the CD drive to the motherboard and power supply and get ready to install the new drive.

Step Three: Installing the New Drive

Most drives these days do not require any unusual jumper settings, but double check the documentation with yours to be sure and set them accordingly if applicable. Carefully slide the new drive into place, usually from the front of the computer case. Before securing it into position, attach the cables. Secure into position and tighten any screws that may be required.

Step Four: Reassembling the Computer

This part is a simple matter of doing everything you did earlier in reverse. Find all of those tiny little screws and reassemble the computer case. Reconnect your computer to its power supply and attach any peripherals that you may have removed earlier. When you boot up the computer, it should automatically detect the new DVD drive and install the appropriate device driver for it.

Step Five: Install the Device Drivers

While Windows should find the correct device driver for your new DVD drive automatically, this doesn’t always happen. If it doesn’t, you may need to install the drivers on your own. If the computer has a separate CD drive, you can use that drive to install the drivers from the installation CD. However, it’s usually a better idea to download the most current set of DVD drivers from the manufacturer’s Web site and install those. The newer drivers could solve known issues with the drive, so you want to take advantage of any fixes released since your drive was manufactured.

Finally, install any disc burning software that came with the drive. These programs are usually optional, so use your best judgment. For example, if you already have a program such as Nero installed, installing a similar product may be redundant and cause unnecessary conflicts.