My USB ports are inoperable but I power to phone and iPod. I’ve already tried a few things with no success. What do I do?

Troubleshooting USB Ports with Device Manager

Windows Device Manager is a handy utility that may be able to help with your inoperable USB ports. To access this tool, go to Control Panel and find the Hardware and Sound section. Click on Device Manager. If you have Windows Vista or Windows 7, it's faster to click Start and type Device Manager into the Search bar and then click its icon.

Go ahead and connect a USB device to one of your ports. Once connected, go to the Action menu and choose "Scan for hardware changes." The idea here is that Device Manager will detect your USB device, load the appropriate drivers, and ultimately fix itself.

If that doesn't work, and it might not, then it's time to uninstall and reinstall your USB ports. Don't worry, this is fairly easy.

Uninstalling and Reinstalling USB Ports with Device Manager

Again, you'll want to launch Device Manager if it's not already open. Scroll down the list to Universal Serial Bus Controllers and click on it to expand the list. You should see several USB controllers in the list. One at a time, right-click each one and choose "uninstall." Next, reboot your computer. When your computer restarts, it will automatically reinstall each USB controller you previously removed. Hopefully the fresh installation files will solve the problem and your USB ports will begin working once again.

Using System Restore to Repair Inoperable USB Ports

If the problem is relatively new and your computer has System Protection turned on, you may be able to rollback your computer to an earlier state and repair your inoperable USB ports that way. System Restore points are snapshots of system settings, allowing you to set your computer to an earlier state without affecting data. However, if you use System Restore, you will need to update your antivirus program and operating system with the latest updates. Any new hardware or software installed since the restore point will also need to be reinstalled.

To use System Restore go to Start > Program Files > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore. System Restore will likely show you the most current restore points available. Choose one from before the USB ports stopped functioning and then follow the prompts to restore your system. The restoration process takes a fair amount of time and requires a reboot.

My computer seems to be rather slow at present. It has a 512MB memory card - if I were to change it for another with a higher memory would this improve its speed? I have watched a ‘professional’ change my memory card and it looked fairly simple. Is this a procedure I could undertake?

Upgrading a Computer's Memory

Upgrading memory chips is indeed a terrific way to improve a computer's speed and it is a fairly simple process. However, computers have their limits and yours may or may not be a candidate for a memory upgrade. For example, if your computer's motherboard has an available memory slot, adding a compatible memory module is an option. If it doesn't, the current memory modules could possibly be replaced with larger capacity chips – if the motherboard supports a larger chip size.

What is Your Computer's Maximum RAM?

First, it's not a bad idea to look up your computer's specifications to find out what its maximum RAM is. If it's an older PC, 512MB might be the maximum in which case there's nothing you can do short of a major upgrade complete with a new motherboard. On the other hand, if you find out that it has a maximum RAM capacity of 1, 2, or 4GB, then it's a great candidate for a memory upgrade. One of the easiest ways to find out this information is to go to the manufacturer's website and look up your computer model. If you saved the computer's user's manual, the information should be listed there as well.

Are there any Empty Expansion Slots?

Next, you'll need to open up your computer to find out exactly what you're dealing with. Make sure to unplug your computer before opening the case. Take off any jewelry such as rings or bracelets as well and ground yourself. Now, open the case and inspect the motherboard. Are there any empty expansion slots? How many existing memory modules are in place? For example, since your computer has 512MB of RAM, it either has two 256MB chips or one 521MB chip. Based on what you find in the computer's specifications and the availability of expansion shots, you should be able to determine the number and capacity of memory to buy.

At this point, you can pull one of the chips and take it down to your local electronics store where a clerk should be able to help you select the right type of memory modules for your upgrade.

What you are looking to do is actually accomplished through drive image backup or creation. A number of these programs exist, and you should be able to pick one up for less than fifty dollars. There are also a few free applications that you can try, but I don’t have any experience with any of them, so I can’t offer a recommendation. Just do a search for “backup and restore applications.” This type of restore solution is easy to use, and convenient to have.

What is a Drive Image Backup?

Instead of reinstalling Windows XP and then restoring all of your programs through backup files, you restore your entire system using the drive image that you create using special software. This would include your operating system, every program, and all of your files. Basically, you create an image of your entire hard drive so that you can place it back on the computer, should you ever need to do so. Plus, it would restore every piece of data back to the exact location it was in at the time you created the image backup. Basically, you create a copy of your hard drive at the time of creation, hence the use of the word image.

Where Can You Store a Drive Image Backup?

When you create your drive image backup, you can save it to an external source such as a USP drive, FireWire drive, CD, or DVD.

How Does a Drive Image Backup Work?

You can use your drive image to restore your computer to the way it was when you created the backup. Basically, you have a recovery disk that you use to boot the computer, and then you restore the drive or partition that you want or need.

Restoring Programs to Original Locations with a Reinstall

Unfortunately, when you reinstall your operating system, you do wipe out everything that you have. You can transfer file storage onto the computer, but you are going to have to choose where to put each folder since you are starting with a fresh installation of your operating system. If you complete a repair instead of a reinstallation, then you won’t lose your data or change the location it is in.

Understanding the operations of the laptop computer begins with learning the components that make it work. The laptop computer consists of two kinds of parts-built-in parts and peripherals. The computer unit houses built-in parts, either inside the top half or the bottom half. Peripherals are hardware units attached to the exterior of the laptop through an electronic port. For example, you can connect a flash drive to the laptop's USB port for additional file storage.

The human eye can view the basic components of the laptop. The monitor, touch pad (or built-in mouse), keyboard, AC adaptor, battery, and speakers are key parts of the laptop computer. Also called the screen, the monitor provides a visual display of the graphical user interface. The AC adaptor provides a cord connection between the motherboard and the electrical outlet. You can use the AC adaptor to recharge the battery. You will find the battery is generally housed on the bottom of the laptop. Some laptop computers feature a removable battery as a security feature. Speakers might be built into the computer on the top half or bottom half. You also have the option to attach peripheral speakers for more volume than built-in speakers offer.

Below the laptop's keyboard, you can find parts similar to the parts inside a desktop. The laptop motherboard includes circuits connecting transistors, resistors, diodes, and other electrical parts. The silicon chip, or CPU, on the motherboard manages all computer operations. Connections to the motherboard are also housed below the keyboard in the bottom case. For example, the motherboard connects to the CD-ROM or DVD-Drive, the hard drive, the wireless card or modem, the keyboard, the touch pad, the battery pack, and the speakers.

Multimedia features enable the user to work with multiple formats on one compact workstation. For example, your computer might include the ability to read media cards, record videos using a built-in Web camera, and burn DVDs in the DVD-R drive. You can find the media in the bottom case in front of the keyboard, the Web camera above the laptop screen, and the DVD-R drive on the right or left side of the keyboard.

If you are going to make a substantial investment in a laptop, search for a model known for its reliability. Keep in mind some laptops will not last as long as a desktop computer. One study of 30,000 laptops by Square Trade found 1 in 3 laptops will fail in the first 3 years. A laptop computer can also be damaged during transport (even in a padded canvas or leather case). Most manufacturers include a standard 1-year warranty for their laptop models. You might consider buying an extended warranty to protect your laptop's hardware components.

Your laptop is your key to staying connected to business and personal computer applications whenever you're away from home. If you decide to buy a laptop only, set this computer up on a computer worktable. Your compact computer offers all of the conveniences of a desktop without requiring heavy lifting or too much space. Find a laptop at your local retailer or online store today!

HDMI is the video and audio connection of choice for HDTVs. It is a simple, high-bandwith connection which reduces the amount of wires needed and provides excellent picture quality.

Recently, some laptops have started to ship with HDMI connections which allow them to send video and audio to a HDTV. This has the potential of turning a laptop into a mobile media player. However, not all of the laptops which provide a HDMI connection have the processing power required to play back high-definition video at 1080p. This guide lists three things to look for when buying a laptop with HDMI.

Laptop with HDMI: Picking a Graphics Solution

While modern computer processors are powerful, they're not very efficient when it comes to displaying high-definition video. This is a task best performed by a laptop with a dedicated GPU, or graphics processing unit. There two major brands of GPU are ATI and Nvidia. Both are available in numerous laptops and both are capable of displaying 1080p video smoothly on a HDTV.

While buying a laptop with a dedicated GPU is recommended, it isn't necessary to buy the fastest one which you can find. Even very basic GPUs from ATI and Nvidia are capable of handling high-definition video.

Laptop with HDMI: The Importance of Storage

If you are considering the purchase of a laptop with HDMI it is also important to consider the storage the laptop has available. Unless you are planning to exclusively play streaming online video, you will need a large hard drive to hold video files.

A typical DVD movie takes up around eight gigabytes of space. A high definition movie can require twenty gigabytes of storage space or more. This means that a 250 gigabyte hard drive could hold thirty DVDs if it was completely empty, but you can expect Windows and other basic software to take up at least 30 gigabytes, limiting storage space. It is best to consider a laptop with a hard drive of at least 500 gigabytes.

Laptop with HDMI: Port Location

With the technical considerations of graphics and storage taken care of, there is on more practical consideration to keep in mind - the location of the HDMI port.

Laptops from different brands have different locations for various ports on the laptop. In an ideal situation the HDMI port would be located on the back of a laptop, but this is rare. It is more common for the HDMI port to be on the left or right near the rear of the laptop. Avoid laptops which place the HDMI port near the front of the laptop, as this configuration can be inconvenient.

Laptop with HDMI: Wrap Up

A laptop with HDMI can be an impressive and fun media player. Before you buy, remember the three topics discussed above. Following these guidelines will ensure that your new HDMI laptop is fully capable of storing your videos and playing them on a HDTV.

Choosing a laptop is a big decision. Laptops are not inexpensive, and if they break they are expensive to repair. They're also a device that most  people will use every day. The latest research indicates that those who own a computer spend an average of 13 hours per week online. That's more time than many people spend in their car, and that's just online use - a study of offline use would likely result in an even higher number.

This means it is important to pick a laptop brand you can trust. While finding information about laptop brands can be daunting, there are significant differences between them which you should know about before you buy. This guide presents information on the three best laptop brands today and why they are the best.

Apple

Apple's reputation for quality products is legendary. The price tag placed on Apple products is high, however, which causes many buyers to wonder if they're worth the price. Ultimately that is an answer for each buyer to decide - only you know what you budget will allow - but there is no question that Apple is among the best laptop brands today.

The build quality of Apple's laptops is exceptional. The machined aluminum bodies of the MacBook Pro laptops are solid and allow for very little flex. This solid quality is backed up by a durable and comfortable keyboard and a large multi-touch trackpad.  The displays on Apple laptops are bright and vivid as well.

Apple's reliability is not the best , but it isn't the worst, either. According to Square Trade, around 11% of Apple laptops fail within two years, which is right in the middle of the pack. Apple's customer service has constantly received praise and was rated as the best in Laptop Magazine's annual customer service review.

ASUS

It wasn't that long ago that ASUS was known mostly as a motherboard company. ASUS has put a lot of effort into its laptop business in recent years, however, and the effort has made ASUS one of the best laptop brands today.

ASUS seems to specialize in netbooks and low-cost ultraportables. The Eee PC line of netbooks is famous, and the UL series of 13 inch laptops is also becoming well known. However, ASUS also offers some very attractive large gaming laptops in its G series products, which provide great performance for a low price.

One of the biggest reasons for ASUS's rise has been the reliability of its products. According to Square Trade, ASUS is the most reliable laptop brand today. Laptop Magazine's customer service review found that ASUS also offers good customer service in case anything does go wrong.

Sony

Sony, like Apple, is a brand which puts most of its focus on building premium products rather than attempting to be competitive purely on price. Sony laptops tend to follow a certain design aesthetic which includes responsive trackpads, nice keyboards, and a solid chassis which exhibits little flex.

There are many products in Sony's lineup, but the ones which most consumers will be interested in are the company's mainstream laptops with displays between thirteen and sixteen inches. These products are often more expensive than those from competitors, but as said, Sony doesn't sell on price. It may be tempting to save $100 dollars and purchase from another brand, but in the long term the Sony will be a better value.

Sony also has an excellent reputation for reliability. According to Square Trade, Sony laptops are the third most reliable available today. Sony's customer service is also excellent, with the website being of particular note. It is clear, easy to use, and offers many resolutions for common problems.

Runners up

While Apple, ASUS and Sony earn honors as the best laptop brands, they didn't run away with the crown. Toshiba is very close to Sony thanks to great design and high reliability. Lenovo also must be mentioned as the company's Thinkpad business laptops are a must-have for business users. This guide should not be taken as a suggestion that other brands are terrible, because every brand has at least one laptop which is exceptional. However, when you first start looking it is best to start with the very best.

Best Laptop Brands Summary

Which laptop brand is the best? This popular question is answered in this article. The three laptop brands, are rated by build quality, reliability and customer service, are presented in this guide. The brands ranked as the best are Apple, ASUS and Sony.

Buying a Computer- New Versus Used

When buying a computer, it is often difficult to decide whether to buy new or used. Money is often a consideration that cannot be overlooked and in many cases, a used computer can often provide a great many features that a new computer of comparable price cannot. Admittedly, a market exists for used computers. Deciding whether or not you fit into that market is the first decision that needs to be made.

Ideal Reasons behind the Purchase of a Used Computer

The purpose or intended use of the computer should be one of the most important facets in determining whether to buy new or used.  Perhaps the computer is going to be used as a learning tool and is intended as a stepping stone. By all means, buying used is a great idea in this case.

Perhaps the computer is intended for someone who is going to use it for remedial or rehabilitation purposes. For example, many individuals undergo a serious accident or heart attack. Treatment involves relearning many of the skills that were previously known, including spelling, reading, and even word-processing. A basic low-end computer is sufficient for this purpose and therefore, a used computer should be suitable.

Likewise, many parents intend to purchase a low-end computer for their young children to use in an attempt to prevent mishaps with their own personal computer, especially if it also doubles for a work computer. A used computer is perfectly acceptable for this purpose, particularly if the children are quite young or lacking in computer skills.

Disadvantages to the Purchase of a Used Computer

On the flip side, the disadvantages of a used computer may preclude the purchase. Used computers are often exhibit incompatibility with newer software. Moreover, the owner will often discover the unavailability of parts and the need for upgrades can prove quite costly. Plus, the used computer might not include all ports or drives that you require.

Used computers often come with their own inherent problems as well, especially if they are made through a personal transaction and not through a reputable company that refits the machines. It becomes essential to check for spyware and viruses when purchasing a used computer through a friend or acquaintance.

Should You Purchase a New Computer Over Used?

This is perhaps the most difficult decision for many a computer used, especially since there are lots of choices to make. As technology changes, the need to buy new often becomes evident. Not only does the buyer not have to worry about spyware, viruses, problems with the registry, and more, but a new computer will also have a great many bells and whistles that the used one does not.

Preparation to Change PC Power Supply

Before you do anything, you should make sure you prepare the space in which you'll be working. Find a level working space on which you can place your computer. You will need at least a screwdriver to complete this task, and it can also help to have a flash light. Finally, it is recommend that you use an anti-static wrist band. Static electricity from your body can in rare instances damage your computer. The anti-static wrist band makes sure that this doesn't happen.

Getting Started

Unplug your computer and move it to your work space. Position the computer so that you are viewing it from the front. The panel on the left side if the one that you will want to open. This panel is secured by screws which are usually found on the rear of the case along the left edge. Take out the screws and then open the panel. If the panel doesn't open at first, examine the top, bottom, and front of the case to locate any addition screws.

Locating the Old Power Supply

Once you have the case open you will need to find your old power supply. The power supply is a metal box with a huge bundle of wires coming out of one end. It is usually located at the top and rear of the computer, although a few computers will place the power supply at the bottom of the case.

Detaching PC Power Supply Cables

The power supply is, of course, currently connected to the components in your computer. You will need to unplug everything before removing the old power supply. You don't need any tools for this - a firm pull will detach most of the cords. There are a few exceptions, like the large 24-pin motherboard power cord. This has a plastic latch which must be pressed in order to remove the cord.

Extracting the Old PC Power Supply

Locate the four screws on the rear of the case which correspond to the position of the power supply. Unscrew these and then remove the power supply by pulling it firmly up and out of the case. Watch carefully for anything which is still connected to the power supply - you don't want to accidentally pull a component out of your case.

Placing the New Power Supply

Gently lower the new power supply into position. Use the four screws which were just removed to screw the new power supply firmly into place.

Reconnecting Cords

Connect the new power supply to all of the equipment in your computer. It is best to do this systematically in order to make sure that you don't miss anything. Do the motherboard first, since the computer won't boot without those connections, then the video card. After that connect your hard drives and your optical drive, then finally connect any other devices in your computer.

Test Run

Without closing your computer fully or connecting the computer to any other devices, plug the computer in and press the power button. The fans should begin to operate and the power LED should turn on. If the computer does not boot, unplug it again and make sure all of the connections, particularly those connected to the motherboard, are tight.

PC Power Supply is now Changed:  Completion!

Once you've completed a brief test, close the computer's left panel using the screws we took out when disassembling the computer. That's it! You've successfully changed your computer's power supply.

Acer notebooks have a reputation for being contrary when it comes to replacing their screens. Since a blank screen at startup can have a number of reasons behind it, it takes a bit of troubleshooting to come up with a solution. Try the following suggestions one at a time and see if you can find a fix for the problem.

Troubleshooting White Screen Display: Video Cable Connector

Since the secondary monitor that you hooked up is working, the problem might be with the ribbon cable connector/video cable connector in the laptop. The whiteness of the screen suggests that the back lights are still working. It sounds as though the video cable connector is loose and you'll have to manually reseat it so that the screen works. This is going to be a delicate task, so take your time when using the following directions.

Reseating the Video Cable Connector

• 1) Find a small pair of needle nose pliers and a screwdriver.
• 2) Disconnect the power supply from your Acer laptop.
• 3) Search for and remove the hinge cover screws that connect the screen to the laptop.
• 4) If necessary, remove the keyboard cover as well for better accessibility.
• 5) Take the needle nose pliers and gently pull on the white connector plug.
• 6) Using the needle nose pliers, apply gentle pressure to bring the pins into closer contact with each other.
• 7) Use the needle nose pliers to carefully check to see if the slender wires on the side of the screen are connected firmly at their connection points.
• 8) Check the cable connectors to make sure they are snug. If necessary, unplug them and then plug the cable connectors back in.

If this procedure did not work, try the other suggestions.

Troubleshooting White Screen Display: Boot Up into Safe Mode

Try booting up your Acer in "Safe Mode" using whichever key your manual indicates that you should use. If you don't have the manual, just try one key ("F2," "F10," "F8" "F12" ) at a time until you find the one that boots up your machine in "Safe Mode." If you are lucky, you will see the screen that appears for "Safe Mode" instead of a white one.

Troubleshooting White Screen Display: Boot Up with the Installation Disk

If it is available, boot up the Acer laptop with the installation disk. Press the "ESC" key on the keyboard along with the "f1" key while you are booting up. If this is successful, you should see "Check System" appear on the screen.

I have a couple of questions for you. Can you see the images on the external hard drive while it is plugged into the MAC? Are these files Windows compatible? Do you have similar software installed on the PC?

Using Portable Hard Drive to Migrate Images from a MAC to a PC

The hard drive should be formatted before you use it, but the way you format it also makes a difference and could be the problem here. While the MAC can read files on a hard drive that has been formatted for a PC, it is possible that the PC cannot read files from a hard drive that has been formatted for a MAC.

If you can see the data on the hard drive while it is connected to the MAC, but you cannot see the images when you connect the hard drive to the PC, then you might need to reformat your hard drive. If this is the case, then your hard drive is probably formatted for a MAC. This means that you might need to reformat the hard drive for a PC, recopy the files from the MAC to the hard drive, and then transfer them to the PC. Alternatively, you can always use a different external hard drive to migrate the images from the MAC to the PC.

Migrating Files from a MAC to a PC Using Portable Hard Drive: Software

Unless you already have the same software installed, you probably need to install software on the PC that is similar to what you had on the MAC when creating the images. Since you are trying to view MAC images on a PC, you need to have software that recognizes the images. These two machines use different versions of software, which could also be your problem. However, that being said, your PC needs to have similar software to the MAC software that created the images that you are trying to transfer installed on it.

Migrating Files from a MAC to a PC: File Extensions

PCs are contrary creatures. Make sure that the file extensions on the images are ones that a PC will recognize before you try to transfer them. For example, PowerPoint files should have the file extension (.ppt) in order for a Windows-based PC to recognize the files.