Your Hard Drive is one of those components inside your computer that is mostly likely to fail as the system gets older.This is because it is a mechanical device that uses motors, and other moving parts that are guaranteed to wear out.

Before you remove the system unit cover to gain access to your hard drive , remember tor remove any and all ESD (Electrical Static Discharge) from your body. This is done by touching an object such as a doorknob or the case of the system unit. After this safety precaution is done, remove the system unit cover and locate the drive.

Depending on the location of old your Hard Drive, you may have to remove other components just to have access to it.Wef so, take very good notes of everything you disconnect or remove, you can refer to them later as you replace the components. Look to be sure you have empty drive bays to install extra drives should you decide to add a second drive.

Once the drive is clear of other cables and components, carefully remove the power and data cable from the drive and remove the drive retaining screws. Some drives are mounted on rails , if this is the case,just slide the unit out through the front or
top of the system unit chassis.

Separate the drive from the rail and now install the new drive to the rail. Watch those screws, they are small and can be easily lost. Remember to ground yourself from time to time to remove electrical static buildup.Watch this short video to see the Drive being installed in the system unit When the drive is mounted on the rail, (if you have one) write down any information on the front of the drive that may give you the type, model number, sectors, cylinders, access time and other information that seem important. You may need it when you configure the hard drive. Nearly all new hard drives have software that does this for you.

After being certain that all cables,connections and all other components are in place, replace the system unit cover, reconnect all peripherals to the system unit and plug it into the wall outlet.

Turn on the computer. Now you will need to tell the computer that it has a new or different hard drive. You will have to start your PC with a bootable floppy disk if you replaced or installed a new hard drive.

Wef your new drive came with a owners manual, keep it handy for future reference and you may need it to config your drive.Even though you have installed the drive with its cable, the computer doesnt know that you have done this. So we must tell the PC and while we are at it, we must make the drive useable by artitioning and formatting it.

Your Hard is a delicate device and will wear out soon.Learn about the types of Hard Drives, how to remove and install them quickly. Doing so will save you on downtime with your computer and youll earn extra cash by installing new drives for your relatives and friends.

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By eHow Computers Editor


Todays laptops are much more powerful than even the hottest desktop computers of yesterday. Theyre also lighter and much more stylish. Many people are opting out of desktop computers altogether and use a laptop for all their computer needs. If youre thinking of going this route, check out these shopping tips.
Instructions
Step1
Read through How to Choose a Desktop Computer. The "Before you shop" points and most of "The basics" also apply when shopping for a laptop.
Step2
Pick up the laptops at the store. (Ask to have them unlocked if necessary.) Choose one that feels sturdy, solid and not too heavy.

Step3
Try the keyboard. Since you cant replace it (except with the exact same item), make sure youre comfortable with its touch and responsiveness. Test it on a desk and on your lap.

Step4
Test the pointing device, track pad or track ball, the laptop alternatives to a mouse. Some of these can be hard to master. Youll be able to connect an external mouse, but the built-in device is more handy when youre mobile.

Step5
Check if the computers bottom gets uncomfortably hot when its running--a problem if you actually use the laptop on your lap.

Step6
Pay attention to screen size and resolution. Current liquid-crystal display (LCD) screens on laptops measure from 13 to 21 inches diagonally. Screen resolution may be as low as 800 x 600 pixels or as high as 1600 x 1200. The more pixels, the crisper the screen image. View the screen in a variety of settings: A screen that looks great in normal room lighting can look terrible in bright or dim light.

Step7
Choose a laptop with at least two USB 2 connections and at least one Firewire (IEEE1394) connection. USB 2 and Firewire are very popular and fast ways of connecting iPods, digital cameras and some phones to computers.

Step8
Check to see if the laptop has built in wireless capabilities, most do these days. A wireless network card (also called Wi-Fi or 802.11) will free you from having to be wired to your Internet connection. Also, Bluetooth capability will let you share information wirelessly with other Bluetooth-equipped devices, such as your cell phone or personal digital assistant.

Step9
Check to see if the laptop has a DVD Burner. That makes backing up documents, music files and pictures a snap because of the high capacity of the discs.

Step10
Get an antitheft device. Hundreds of thousands of laptops are stolen every year. Look for cables that secure the laptop to a desk. Install software that disables a stolen laptop, or better yet, reports the laptops location when it connects to the Internet.

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How To Format Your Hard Drive:

Step 1 - Back up your data

You must backup all of the files you created or any other data you can’t afford to lose no matter where they are stored on the hard drive. When you format the hard drive, it will erase EVERYTHING on the hard drive. So backup up everything you don’t want to lose to DVDs or a second hard drive. Personally, I use a second hard drive and backup everything. That way I don’t lose anything. If I have enough room I will save the files uncompressed. If not, I save each top level folder as a zip file.

Step 2 - Print out your hardware configuration

It’s always useful to know exactly what hardware devices you have installed on your computer. You may need this information to find drivers for the hardware especially if you can’t find the original installation CDs.
The easiest way to print out you hardware configuration is to:

• Open the Control Panel
• Select the System icon
• Chose the Hardware tab
• Click on Device Manager
• Select Action -> Print from the top menu

Step 3 - Shut down and Reboot from the windows installation CD

You must do the formatting from the CD. If you are not sure how to boot from your CD, check you computer’s user manual. If you can’t find it and it doesn’t tell you on the black boot up screen, go to the motherboard (or computer if it a name brand) manufacturer’s website and download a pdf version of your user manual. You cannot boot from your C drive because we are going to delete that partition.

Step 4 - Start the windows installation

I am using windows XP screen captures for this article. The screens may be slightly different with windows 2000 or vista. When the screen below appears, press Enter.

• Follow the onscreen directions. At some point you will get to the screen shown below

• Press Enter. The screen shown below will appear.

• Using the down arrow key, highlight the Format the partition using the NTFS file system option
• Press Enter to continue

The install program will now format your hard drive. When that is finished follow the on screen prompts to install a fresh new copy of windows.

Step 5 - Install hardware drivers

You now need to install all of the drivers for your hardware. The most important one will be the driver for your network card so you will be access the internet. As long as that one is working you will be able to download all of the others if you can’t find them. You can use the hardware print out to make sure you don’t forget to install any drivers. When you finish installing all of your hardware drivers, test you hardware to make sure that it is working. Test the printer, scanner, speakers, sound, camera, microphone, etc to make sure that everything is working properly. Go online and download any missing drivers and install them. When everything is working, go to the nest step.

Step 6 - Update windows

Either click on the update windows icon or go to Microsoft’s website, and select your version of windows and select update. Your system files will be updated with the latest patches.

Step 7 - Install all of your applications

After you windows operating system is updated to the latest service pack, it’s time to install all of your applications using the original installation CDs. This can take anywhere from several hours to several days depending on how many applications you have to install. After you install the applications make sure they are working properly. They should be.
The reason I told you to wait until after you did the windows update to install your applications was just in case a newer version of a dll one of your applications needs was installed during the update process. By waiting you will install the one your application needs to work properly.

Step 8 - Restore your files

If everything else is working properly, you can now copy all of the files you created back to your hard drive. You have a fresh install of both your windows operating system and all of your applications. Do not copy any system or application files…only the files that you created or downloaded.
Congratulations, you have successfully formatted your hard drive and reinstalled windows and all of your applications. Now take yourself out for a treat.

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• Windows Media Player – Video and Audio Overview
• Customizing Tips For Microsoft Internet Explorer
• Defragging Your Windows Hard Drive

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Gaming is all the rage nowadays. What used to be niche group of game players is now mainstream. This means that the gaming laptop has really come into its own. Gamers have a lot of options now in the area of laptops.

Gamers demand a lot out of their laptops. They tend to know a lot about computers and they know what they want. They like to order their gaming laptops with their own specs and configurations, essentially creating their own “Dream Machines.” If you are a gamer, here are some of the factors you should consider when choosing the best gaming laptop out there:

1.) Graphics
Well, this is a given. Of course you want awesome graphics. Your game-playing enjoyment practically depends on it. This should be your first area of consideration when choosing a laptop computer. Graphics make your laptop capable of many things, such as wide-screen HDTV, mobile video editing studio, and 3D games. Look for a laptop that includes integrated graphics and a large amount of video RAM. Some Graphic Chipsets that are highly rated include:
Intel’s Graphics Media Accelerator 900
Mobility Radeon 9700
ATIs Mobility FireGL V3200

2). Speed, Baby, Speed!
The speed of processors is known as clock speed, and is measured in megahertz (MHz) or in gigahertz (GHz). The higher the clock speed, the faster your laptop will work.

Get the fastest computer you can afford in order to receive the maximum performance from your gaming laptop. It’s that simple. Your laptop must be able to process the latest 3D games easily, or expect the worst to happen—freeze up. Our suggestion is to go with a SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Architecture) processor. SATA processors are advanced and use less power. They are perfect for laptops. Or, when in doubt, you are always safe with a Pentium.

And, always be aware of your hard drive speed. A 7,200rpm hard drive is faster than a 4,200rpm or 5,400rpm. The faster the hard drive, the better the performance, as well.

Loads of RAM
A lot of RAM (Random-Access Memory) is good. LOADS of RAM is better. In other words, get as much RAM as possible. This will determine how much graphics your laptop can handle. You need at least 246MB for Windows XP and Mac OS X.

Also check out DDR2-SDRAM. This is a new standard that can boost SDRAM memory up to speeds over 200MHz! And Video RAM or VRAM, is special memory that is used by video adaptors on your laptop. This specifically handles the graphic and is helpful when you play the latest 3D games on your laptop.

Display
Don’t forget, you need the brightest, sharpest display screen around to fully appreciate the utter coolness of modern gaming. What you need to keep in mind is this: SVA Resolution. In other words, images are made up of pixels or dots. The more pixels you have, the better the image. SVGA Resolution is made up of 800 x 600 pixels, which is very good.

So, in conclusion:
High Graphics + Speed + RAM + Display = Awesome Gaming Laptop Bliss. Enough said.

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Many people sell their used computers for a variety of reasons. Some sell their used computer instead of throwing them as a trash get some money from them, while others sell theirused computers to buy new computers with the latest features and technology. Not only individuals sell their used computers, but also large numbers of organizations or firms sell their used computers. They do so because the computer systems may require maintenance and repairs, after some time due to the decrease in performance seen in the computers after some years. Instead of spending more money on the maintenance and repairs they sell and gain money, as there is a great demand forused computers. Such companies easily sell their used computers online through auctions or exchange for new computers with less effort in no time.

Used computers are bought by either students who do not have good savings or earnings or they are bought by educational institutions like the schools and universities. Some parents buyused computers for their children just for browsing the Internet and to play games. For this purpose, a used computer is more than sufficient than spending huge amounts on a new computer. These target segments however requireused computers in a good working condition as well as for a lesser price. Most of the used computers are sold in the online market, as it attracts all sorts of buyers. There are many numbers of online classifieds or auctions or online dealers who sellused computers. Selling used computers are a better option than throwing them as trash or keeping them in a corner occupying space and collecting dust.

The first and important step is to improve the appearance of the used computer by wiping it clean free of dust and dirt. Any buyer would get impressed by the waythe computer looks, looks make the first impression. The selling price of a clean used computer is always better than the one, which is full of dirt and dust.

All the software manual, operating system and other supporting discs that came with the computer should be in tact. This will add more value, when selling the used computer and also will make the buyer consider the person who is selling the used computer as a trusted seller.

The most important thing to do before selling a used computer is to erase all the personal details or information from the hard disk or drive. Instead of just putting them in the trash folder it is very important to purge all the personal data fromthe computer ’s memory, even invisible backup files can cause danger. A tech savvy person’s help can be got if the seller does not know how to do it. If not done it may lead to accessing the bank accounts, or emails by any unknown person leading to identity theft. For that when there is a remedy. Unused scanners, printers can also be bundled with the sale of the used computer. A buyer may sometime value it. The benefits or features ofthe computer can be highlighted for better sales.

Source: Free Articles

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How to recover files from computer with crashed operating system:
In this guide I explain how to recover files from a laptop (or desktop PC) with crashed, failed, damaged operating system.

WHEN CAN YOU USE THIS RECOVERY GUIDE?

1. The guide will work if your operating system damaged but the laptop (or desktop PC) hardware still works fine.

2. The guide might work if the hard drive has some minor damage, like a few bad sectors.

PREPARING FOR RECOVERY

For this recovery I’ll be using a Ubuntu CD (Linux OS). Also, you can create a bootable Ubuntu USB stick and use that instead of the CD. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a Linux guru for that. The interface will be very similar to Windows OS.
You’ll need another working computer to download and create a bootable Ubundu CD or USB stick.
1. Download the latest version of Ubuntu OS here. When you click on the download button you’ll start downloading an ISO image.
2. Burn this ISO image on a CD or create a bootable USB stick. It’s explained on the same Ubuntu download page, just scroll a little bit down.
3. Find the target drive where you going to save recovered files. You can use an external USB hard drive or USB memory stick. The target drive can be formatted with any common Windows file system: FAT, FAT32, NTFS.

DATA RECOVERY PROCESS

STEP 1.

Boot your laptop from the Ubuntu CD or USB stick. Simply insert the CD or USB stick and restart the computer.

If the laptop (of desktop PC) keeps trying to boot from the internal hard drive, you’ll have to enter the BIOS setup menu and change the boot order. Set your CD/DVD drive or USB stick as first device in the boot order. Safe changes and restart the computer.

From my experience, Ubuntu OS works fine with most laptop and desktop PC hardware and you shouldn’t have any problem booting it to the desktop. It may not work if your computer hardware is too new.

STEP 2.

The computer will start booting from the CD or USB stick.

Now read carefully!

After some time a welcome screen will pop up. On this screen you can choose your language and choose between two options: Try Ubuntu and Install Ubuntu.

Select Try Ubuntu. In this case Linux OS will run directly from the CD or USB stick without changing any files on the hard drive.
STEP 3.

Ubuntu OS will continue loading and after a while you’ll boot to the desktop, as it shown on the following picture.

STEP 4.

In order to access the internal hard drive, you click on Places in the top toolbar. You should see your internal hard drive in the drop down menu under the Computer.

STEP 5.

When you click on the internal hard drive a new window will open up. In this window you’ll see all files located on the hard drive.

STEP 6.

Now plug in your target drive: external USB hard drive or USB flash drive.

Another window will pop up. In this window you’ll see files located on the external drive. In my case I have no files on the external drive, that’s why the window is empty.

You can move windows same way you do it in Windows OS. Arrange both windows as you like.

STEP 7.

Finally, drag and drop needed files from the internal hard drive to the external drive.

After the transfer is done, you can unplug the external drive and use it on any other computer.

IF YOU HAVE FAILED HARDWARE

In case if your laptop (or desktop PC) has faulty hardware, you should try recovery with external USB enclosure.

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