Resources

I have just put a new screen on my computer and now I have no sound. The sound used to come from the hard drive. Help?

Check your Monitor and PC Connection

While the sound on your computer is generated from the hard drive, the sound itself might now need to route differently through the new monitor in order to work properly if the monitor includes built in speakers. If this is the case, there will be an input port on the back of the monitor that you will connect to the green sound port on the back of your PC tower. You should be able to consult the monitor user manual for specific details about where to find the port. It might be difficult to see at first, but it should be there.

Troubleshoot with External Speakers

The other possibility is that your old monitor had built in speakers, providing your sound, and that the new one doesn’t. This isn’t very likely, since most new monitors include speakers, but it is possible that you are missing an amplifier or some other component that the system needs. The best way to troubleshoot this is by connecting a pair of external speakers to the green sound port on the back of your PC tower. You can buy speakers inexpensively at any computer or electronic store.

Troubleshoot your Drivers

Another possibility, if all the speaker connections are properly set up, is that the installation of the new monitor messed with some drivers for either your old monitor or another component of your system. You can troubleshoot your drivers in Device Manager.

1. Click My Computer, then Properties
2. Choose Device Manager
3. Scroll through and click the + signs to expand the sections
4. Look for any yellow or red ? or ! symbols - these imply a problem with a device or a driver
5. If there are any, click them for more information - you can then visit the website of the manufacturer of the device and look for recent driver releases on the downloads page
6. You can choose to remove the drivers, if there are issues, and then reinstall them
7. You might also consider removing the monitor, making sure that any drivers from the old monitor are gone, and then you can reinstall the new monitor, and the new drivers.

I hope this helps, if you are still stuck, write us again, and let us know what you’ve been able to try and we can go from there. Good luck!

I’m buying a new computer, and I’d like to know if a triple-core processor is good, because they’re not too common. Can you please tell me some pros and cons and details about them?

Currently, quad core processors are being developed, so the focus on triple core processors has diminished somewhat. While there are some benefits to having a triple core processor over a dual core processor, it actually depends on what you are going to be doing on the computer as to which one is better for you.

Triple Core Processors versus Dual Core Processors

Many computer applications are designed for use with dual core processors. Therefore having a triple or even a quad core processor isn’t going to show a great improvement in performance for computer users who aren’t thoroughly invested in gaming and multi-tasking online.

Pros of Triple Core Processors

For those computer users who like to multi-task, triple core processors are the ideal way to go. You’ll be able to fly right through such tasks as downloading software, installing a printer, playing a game, and running a scan for viruses all at the same time.

Triple core processors are touted by their manufacturers as being a dream come true for digital media enthusiasts along with avid gamers. They’re designed to provide enhanced experiences for PC users with support for most formats. Additionally, they are said to offer better viewing experiences, particularly with Blu-ray titles as far as stalling, lag, and dropped scenes. They are also supposed to provide better graphics that are almost lifelike with increased performance for gaming. In particular, 3D performance should be enhanced with a triple over a dual core processor.

Another one of the pros is the simple fact that the prices of some triple cores are far lower than the price of some dual cores. So, if pricing is an issue, you can shop for either a dual core or a triple core if you aren’t necessarily in the market for something bigger. One of the primary benefits of multi-core processors is that no additional licensing fees apply if you are using Microsoft Windows as your operating system as opposed to using two or more separate processors.

Cons of Triple Core Processors

Since quad core processors are quickly emerging onto the market, triple cores will no longer be developed in the same manner as when they first came onto the scene. What manufacturers have already produced might be all that you will see, one of the reasons why there currently aren’t a whole lot of them available compared to dual core processors. Quad cores simply provide a fourth core for those who plan to use the computer at all angles at the same time so to speak.

In general, triple core processors will be wasted on computers that are only used lightly. Most applications can get by on a single processor, especially if only one or two applications are being used. The waste is enhanced when the applications being used go easy on resources rather than hogging them.

The local tech guy mentioned that since I had a memory running on IDE and not SATA, upgrading memory is a tricky business because it may not read the full 160GB that is there. He also mentioned a SATA (UPGRADE possible to 500GB) build is better over an IDE RAM. Can you help explain the difference in functionality, apart from pin difference?

What is SATA?
 

SATA or Serial Advanced Technology Attachment is one of the common drive interfaces used to connect hard drives, CD ROMs, RAM, and other hardware devices within a computer. The cables are designed to be thin enough to allow maximum air flow while taking up a minimal amount of space. They are easily recognizable because they have tiny connectors with 7 pins. The power needed for SATA is less than what is used by IDE. It offers a great improvement over earlier technologies of the ATA interface since it features the latest developments.

What is IDE?

IDE or Integrated Device Electronics is the common drive interface that is utilized by ATA interfaces. ATA provides the passage of data at a slow pace, fewer bytes of data at a time (than with SATA) no matter what size the interface bus is.

IDE vs. SATA

In order to determine whether to upgrade to SATA or stick to IDE, you should consider what you use the computer for. If you do a lot of gaming, then SATA is clearly the way to go. It is faster and will provide you a better gaming experience over the long run. Since IDE transfers data at such a slow pace, it isn’t the most optimal form of memory for heavy computer performance. Moreover, IDE happens to be aging technology that simply isn’t going to hang around forever. IDE has reached its highest level and isn’t going to receive any improvements at this point.

Benefits of SATA over IDE

In general, the benefits of SATA over IDE include the following:

• SATA is faster.
• SATA is newer technology that will be around longer than IDE. Therefore, it will be more accessible.
• IDE is noted to suffer from data loss while SATA is not.
• IDE is noted to suffer from electromagnetic interference, affecting its functionality at times.
• SATA takes up less space, allowing for greater airflow which is increasingly important in the event that you would add even more memory or upgrade your processor. Each of these strategies would increase the heat factor for your computer and place it at greater risk of failure. However, with smaller memory modules, you save on space and increase airflow.
• SATA uses less power, thereby reducing excessive heat factors.

I am building a PC with the following specs: CPU- Quad Core 3.5-4Ghz, Ram- 6 MB DDR3, Video Card- GTX 295 HD SLI or GTX 295, 750GB Seta II Hard drive, A GB motherboard, Razor Barracuda AC- 7.1 gaming sound card. I have been given a choice of normal fans or liquid cooling, which is better and what are the risks?

Computer Cooling

Keeping your computer system at a safe temperature is important to both the health of your components and the performance of your processor, chipsets and graphics cards. When components are overheated, their lifespans decrease, and your computer will undergo more stalls and crashes than a well-cooled machine.

Conventional PC Fans

Fans are the conventional and most common way that computers are cooled. Some computer fans are attached to the case and cool the entire unit, and other components like CPUs and PCI slots might have their own, built-in fans. PC fans are designed to move air through the case and to push warm air out.

Liquid Cooling Systems

Rather than blow around hot air, liquid cooling systems work in the same way as refrigerators, by circulating a cold liquid through the unit and around the computer parts. As the liquid moves through the computer, the liquid changes from cold to hot and is then delivered back to the radiator for re-cooling and out again.

Liquid Cooling System Pros

Liquid cooling is popular for its ability to drastically decrease the temperature of a computer unit and is more efficient and effective than a traditional fan. Another perk of liquid cooling systems is their relative silence, compared with regular fans. If you are using your computer a lot, and the fans are often on, the noise can interfere with other things you are trying to do. Rather than create noise, the liquid cooling system acts like an insulator and keeps other processing sounds to a minimum.

Liquid Cooling System Cons

Negative aspects of liquid cooling systems are mostly aimed at the expertise needed to build and install the systems but, since you are having your computer built, this isn’t an issue for you. Another potential downside of a liquid cooling system is its size. In some cases the components don’t fit inside the computer case and need to be mounted externally, which might be annoying and less attractive. Make sure you discuss this possibility with your techs before they build your system.

Overall

In all, if you are building a high-powered computer that you intend to use a lot, a liquid cooling system is probably worth the extra money and consideration. Averaging between $70 and $250 per unit, liquid cooling systems are a bigger investment than fans, but will earn their keep in improved cooling, system maintenance and computer performance.

I have bought a Media Center Extender DMA2100 but I can’t get my laptop to find it, please help?

Extender did not Connect Error Message

When trying to connect the Windows Media Center Extended to your computer you might get an error message that says “Extender did not connect. The Extender was set up successfully, but has failed to connect to this computer.” If this is the error that you are getting, it is most likely related to a fingerprint reader program attached to your security system. If you do not use the fingerprint reader program, you can remove the error by removing the program - it is something that creates a secure login - and most often a program called VeriSoft Access Manager. You can remove it with Windows Add/Remove.

Troubleshoot the Interfering Program

First double check all the connections and turn the Extender and the computer on and off to prompt an auto detection. If you are still blocked by this message, you can either contact your security software manufacturer for a workaround - let them know about the Extender and error message, or you can uninstall the program that is causing the trouble. If you go this route, be sure to replace the program with an equal security force to protect against viruses and malware.

Update your Software and Reinstall the Drivers

If you aren’t getting this error, and the extender is just not showing up in the laptop at all, then you might have a driver issue. First of all, you can open Device Manager and check if the computer can see the Extender. Click Start, then Control Panel, and then click twice on System. Select the Hardware tab and then choose Device Manager.

Scroll around and look for the Extender listing. Once you find it, look for any yellow exclamation marks or red Xs. Click these icons to get more information about the problem. As usual, with driver issues, you should update your operating system with Windows Updates. The Extender program might need something from a recent update that your computer is missing. Also, you can try removing the drivers for the Extender while in Device Manager. Just click the information tab, and then remove drivers. Next, remove the Extender from the laptop, reconnect it, and then reboot the computer. Using the manual that came with the Extender, load the drivers again. You can also check with the manufacturer’s website for more relevant drivers.

More Specific Error Information

Good luck, I hope this helps. If not, write again and let us know more about the connection error you are getting and whether or not the device is appearing in Device Manager.

I’ve reset the flat battery style CMOS but it did not work. I believe that there may be a bad sector on the hard drive affecting the video drivers. I can boot from the HP Diagnostics CD, but this appears to be a Linux variant that appears to load its own driver set without reference to the HDD at all. I think I shall have to replace the hard drive and ‘slave’ the old unit to it to see if any file recovery is possible! Is there likely to be any problem? The hard drive is a SATA drive. There are no IDE sockets on this motherboard.

Some of the other options that I can offer to you before you go ahead and purchase a new hard drive include:

• Scanning for spyware/viruses since these forms of malware can attack your operating system and lead to problems such as you are having. Update your anti-spyware/anti-virus application before running it.
• If you don’t have a program, I can recommend Anti-Virus PLUS.
• Performing a soft restore with the installation, restore, or boot disk should allow you to retain your data and hopefully, it should fix your boot sector.
• Clean the registry using a registry cleaner such as RegCure.

If you haven’t tried any of these strategies yet, they are viable options. At the very least, they can’t hurt.

Recover Data from Damaged Hard Drive

If you want to recover data from a damaged hard drive, you can swap it out for a new one as you mentioned. Then, you have two options available to you. The damaged drive can either be set as slave and you can access it to retrieve your data or you can place it in an external hard drive case and access it that way. You will need a USB port on the computer though if you decide to use an external hard drive case. If you experience any difficulty retrieving your data from the hard drive, you can try using data recovery software such as Data Recovery Pro.

Slaving Hard Drive

When you add a second hard drive, as you already seem to know, you must go about the task of slaving one of the hard drives. The computer can only communicate with a single hard drive at a time. Take your new hard drive and set it as master while setting the old hard drive as slave as you have suggested. It is possible to slave a hard drive on a computer that does not have any IDE slots on the motherboard using the same type of set up as you did for the master. You simply need to designate it as the slave.

 Swapping Hard Drives

As long as you purchase a hard drive that is compatible with your system, you shouldn’t have any difficulties completing the task you have suggested. Just make sure that you take all of the appropriate safety precautions when working with the hardware including disconnecting the computer from the power and grounding yourself before doing the work.

Related article:

Retrieving Data from a Malfunctioning Computer