Windows Vista SP2 installed – now Dell laptop cannot get past welcome screen

Published at February 6, 2010 in Random. 0 Comments

I encountered this problem yesterday.  I found a solution by way of troubleshooting.  You will have to get into safe mode with networking and then download the latest wireless card driver.

The main symptom of your Dell computer getting stuck at the welcome screen is due to the fact that there is a compatibility issue with the wireless card driver and Windows Vista Service Pack 2.

Ideally just get into safe mode with networking, get online and go to the Dell.com website.  Look for driver updates via support and then find the wireless card driver.  It should be updated as of 2008.  If there is a newer one, great, otherwise just get the one from 2008.

Install this wireless card driver, restart your computer, you should no longer have any problems where the computer gets stuck on the welcome screen.

If this solution helped you, please feel free to donate to a great cause.  Thank you!

Apple iPad

Published at February 3, 2010 in Random. 0 Comments

Apple’s new iPad was a completely failure up until they announced the price points.  They knew that without the multitasking that this gigantic iPhone would not sell right if priced at or around $500+.  They knew that people would want more than what they have on their iPhones right now.  They knew that people wanted multitasking and I’m sure it will come eventually but they had to have known that people would be up in arms.

I was up in arms right up until I saw the price point.  I immediately comprehended Apple’s logic behind this product.  They wanted to aim low with the price point, introduce it in between the iPhone and a full fledged notebook as well as a netbook.

Do you want to know how I know?  Because the minute they announced the specs and with no mention of multitasking I immediately said I would never buy this.  Again once I saw and read that it would be priced at $499 with just wifi, I said holy crap, I AM BUYING THIS.  That’s how I know.  I can’t wait.

Sent my Intel QX9650 out to Intel for RMA today

Published at February 2, 2010 in Random. 0 Comments

I finally got around to sending my CPU out to Intel.  When I get it back I assure you my review for the Norton Internet Security 2010 will be completed.

Windows 7 64-bit problems with Adobe Reader 9.2, 9.3 and Acrobat – Internet Explorer 8 tab crashes upon closing PDF file

Published at February 2, 2010 in Random. 0 Comments

I’ve had this problem for roughly two months now.  The problem description is as follows: Open up any PDF with Internet Explorer 8 within a new tab.  The first thing I noticed was that I would receive this pop up box which would ask me to choose certain settings on how to read this PDF file.  There was a box on the bottom which indicated that if you check here, you won’t have to see this again – so I did.  The second part to this problem is that when I close the tab that houses the PDF file, IE crashes.  It indicates that there was a problem with acroread.dll.  I have searched long and hard but could not find a proper solution.

I tried your basic troubleshooting.  Uninstall program, reinstall.  Try updating to the newest version if possible, no dice.

I tried searching around on Google and even posted to the Adobe support forums but have not heard a peep from anyone.  This normally indicates to me that either the problem is in its infancy stages and nobody is really doing what I am doing therefore, no one else is experiencing this and or that it’s just my setup that has this problem.  The thing is, I have two computers both running Win 7 64-bit and they experience the same thing.  The only thing in common between the two is their operating system.

I have tried another forum and hope to hear back from someone.  Post in the comments if you are experiencing this problem and or if you have a fix.  Thanks.

Outlook Express could not open email

Published at January 30, 2010 in Random. 0 Comments

I received a computer that was having problems with its hard drive and Outlook Express.  Whenever you’d try to open up an email or view it in the viewing pane Outlook Express would throw up an error indicating that the email could not be opened and or that there was a problem with the address book.  I don’t have the exact error as I’m just going off of memory right now.  It had to do with not being able to open the email and a problem with the address book.

I found a few solutions online via Google but none worked.  The first solution was to uninstall Outlook Express by going through the add/remove programs.  Tried it, no luck.

Second suggestion was to re-register a .dll file using regsvr32.  It said to register wab32.dll but this did not fix the problem either.

Other obvious suggestions were things like recreating the profile, delete all .dbx files (backup before deleting, duh!) and reimporting it into a new profile.  Tried this and again no luck.

In the end, due to time constraints, I opted to do a clean install.  It fixed the problem.

I’ve seriously been finding myself in time constraints with these problems and opting for a clean install.  I wish I could fix these and want to but due to the time I’m given (few days max) to fix these computers, I gotta just get them out the door.  It’s unfortunate because I love to figure the puzzle out and put it all together.  I also enjoy sharing the info I find with you guys out there so that you won’t have to go through the same struggle I did.

Norton 2010

Published at December 14, 2009 in Random. 0 Comments

I’ll be reviewing Norton 2010 Internet Security within the next few weeks.  I recently acquired a 3-computer license.  I plan to install it on my main box as well as my work computers in order to put it through its paces.

I’ll be looking at how well it auto protects.  How well it detects threats, how well it cleans, and how much of a performance hit it takes on your and my computers.

Look forward to seeing it within the next few weeks.

IOGEAR GCS1204 went south and IOGEARs RMA process

Published at December 12, 2009 in Random. 1 Comment

So my trusty, DVI KVMP, the IOGEAR GCS1204 went south on me.  No no, not the new one I just got for home.  This is the KVMP switch I’ve been using at work for my single, dual-link, DVI monitor.

This is the GCS1644’s little brother.  It is truly an amazing piece of machinery.  I had to get it RMAed since IOGEAR’s warranty on their KVMs are 3-years.

I started out by getting in touch with the online chat.  This was a bit tedious as they are often slow and more often than not, will disconnect on you before you’re even done chatting.

So I got in the chat, told them what was happening and that if they could start the RMA process.  They did.  They sent me to a link in which I had to fill out my information, including serial number, address, etc.

I would hope at this day and age that you would get a simple confirmation email stating that they received your request.  That did not happen.  I was kind of confused so I sent it again, all my info, doing the cumbersome task of writing it all out (then I remembered that I had Roboform installed and just used Roboform instead).

I had to submit it 4 times, and then get back on the chat with a representative in order to finally get some type of confirmation.

The next day I received confirmation that the RMA was submitted and how to proceed.  I had to fax something in to them.  I had to fax a proof of purchase, and also a sheet of paper with my name, address, the serial number of the product, model number of the product things like that.

Our fax machine here at work does not fax long distance so unfortunately I had to wait another day.  Oh yeah, forgot to mention since this KVMP is for work, I needed it back ASAP.  So I opted for their advance RMA which is basically giving them a CC# and them cross-shipping me the KVMP replacement.  If I don’t return it back within a certain amount of time, they’ll charge my CC.  The one flaw or drawback I consider is that they had me send them my CC# through fax.  This is not the safest way to get something like this done, unfortunately.  Luckily I have an actual credit card and not a debit card so I sent it anyway because if any unauthorized charges come through, I’ll just dispute them with my CC company.

Anyways I went to Kinkos FedEx to send out the fax to IOGEAR.  The faxes cost me almost $5.00 just to send it from where I am to IOGEAR’s headquarters.

Surprisingly I received an email setting up my RMA within an hour of sending the faxes.  I was happy that it was quick and painless.  The only other complaint I have is that they never gave me a confirmation or a timeline as to when they’d ship the replacement out.

I got back on the chat with support and they told me that I would get an email, try to wait a day.  That’s fine.  I waited and the next day I got confirmation the KVMP was shipped out via FedEx Home Delivery.

I received it yesterday and as far as I can tell, it’s brand new.  If it is refurbished then they pretty much changed everything externally and everything internally is refurbished.  That’s fine by me.

So far so good.

Google Chrome for Mac and Linux released

Published at December 11, 2009 in Random. 0 Comments

Chrome released for Mac and Linux.

Get it for Mac.

Technology Christmas wish list

Published at December 10, 2009 in Random. 0 Comments

Plextor 880SA internal SATA 24x DVDRW

My 3 year old Plextor 760SA has given enough duty for his age.  He’s a goner.  No longer burns disk at fast rates without producing errors. I want their new burner even though it’s not a real Plextor.  It’s a rebadged Lite-On drive.

Plextor 24x DVDRW external

I could use this for the Mac Mini I use at work.  The 2x SuperDrive just isn’t cutting it. 

Plextor 8X external SLIM DVDRW

This would best be used by people who have Netbooks and or those who work on computers who need a test optical drive that doesn’t need power.  This drive works off of USB power.  Great addition.

Mushkin Redline 4GB DDR2 x2

I have my ASUS Rampage Formula, Intel Core 2 Extreme waiting patiently to be put into a new home.  I just need 8GB of this stuff.  Someone get them to me!

ASUS P6T7 WS motherboard

Need to be bleeding edge with technology, I want this and it’s next on my hit list.

Intel Core i7 975 extreme CPU

Same with the motherboard above, it would pair nice with the bleeding edge technology.

Intel X25M 80GB SSD

Only the fastest damn drive on planet earth right now.  It’s a tad bigger than a 74GB Raptor which I had been using for several years.  I could do with 80GB.

Intel X25M 160GB SSD

The 80GB’s bigger brother.

Canon EOS 7D 18 MP DSLR

I have my Panasonic LX3 but this camera hands down, with the 1080p video capabilities, is by far margins ahead of the Panasonic.

If you want, you could buy one of these great gifts and send them to me for Christmas.  I’d truly appreciate it!

Uninterruptible Power Supply aka Battery Backup

Published at December 10, 2009 in Random. 0 Comments

This is the most important thing you can have in your arsenal in prolonging your computer’s life.

Most people think, oh hey, I’m just going to go down to Best Buy to buy the cheapest one available and or think that their surge protectors will help – here is news, it won’t.  You should be ready to pay to play.

You will need something like this APC BR1500 Back-UPS 1500VA for Home/Office Computers.  I use this personally at home, and work for my computers.  APC has recently announced that they’re going to update the look of this UPS but in the mean time, I assure you, this will be your best money spent on protecting your PC.

You need a higher end version that regulates voltage and your power.  Something that will provide line conditioning for those power outages/surges/brownouts that occur right under your nose.  You may not hear it, see symptoms or notice it, but it happens.  Will this device your computer is protected.  On top of that, APC does offer a guarantee type insurance in the case of catastrophic failure but for the most part, you won’t need it.

I’ve already purchased two of these APC BR1500 Back-UPS 1500VA for Home/Office Computers and plan to add more to my arsenal.  I assure you you should do it too.