computer Archives - Page 3 of 3

Q&A: Why won’t my TV work with my computer?

Posted on September 8, 2021

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Question from Glenda: I bought a used flat panel TV at a yard sale and I want to use it as a monitor for an old desktop computer that I’m going to use just for watching Netflix.

I plugged an HDMI cable between the computer and the TV and nothing comes on the screen. It’s like it isn’t getting any signal.

I know the HDMI port on the computer is working because it works with the old monitor just fine. And I know the TV is working because I hooked it up to my cable box.

What could be causing the computer to refuse to work with the TV?

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

How to set up a new Windows PC (the right way)

Posted on April 3, 2021

Note: The links in this post are affiliate links.

Buying a new computer is exciting, but setting it up once you get it home can be a real pain.

And if you don’t set it up correctly, you can open yourself up to having some real problems down the road.

I’ve been setting up new PCs for close to three decades, and during that time I’ve developed a simple step-by-step procedure that’ll have you up and running with your new computer as quickly a possible while avoiding the mistakes that come back to haunt so many others.

Installing and configuring a new computer isn’t exactly rocket science, but performing the right steps in the right order will help ensure that the job is done right while reducing the odds of something going catastrophically wrong somewhere down the line.

With that in mind, here is my step-by-step guide for setting up a new Windows PC in the safest, most efficient manner possible: [Read more…]

Q&A: Will keeping a PC inside a closed compartment cause it to overheat?

Posted on January 8, 2021

Question from Shauna: I hope you will answer a question for me, Rick.

My business partner bought a new desk for her office. It’s really nice because it has lots of handy storage areas.

One of those storage areas is the perfect size to hold her desktop computer tower. I believe it was designed to hold a computer because there’s a hole to route the cables through in the back.

[Read more…]

Q&A: Is my computer’s hard drive going bad?

Posted on July 26, 2020

Question from Brad L.: I have a really old Dell Optiplex 745 desktop computer that I absolutely love.

This machine has an 80 Gig hard drive and it’s recently started giving me problems.

These past few days when I turn on the PC the hard drive makes clicking sounds for about 5-10 seconds, then it finally starts booting up.

I know it’s the hard drive that’s doing the clicking because I removed the cover and listened to it.

Anyway, it’ll eventually boot fully into Windows but it seems to take longer every day. In fact, this morning it took over 7 minutes.

I ran all the malware scans you recommend in this post and they all came up clean. It took about 15 hours total to run them!

Do you think the hard drive is going bad? And if it is, how’s the best way to copy my files from it.

I don’t plan to fix this computer because it’s so old but I would like to save my files if I can. It has Windows 7 on it.

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

Q&A: Why do new computers still come with USB 2.0 ports?

Posted on April 4, 2016

Question from Robert C.: I’ve been shopping for a new computer, and I’ve noticed something that’s puzzling me.

Virtually all of the desktop and laptop PCs currently on the market still have USB 2.0 ports on them, and that includes the newest models.

I guess I had just assumed that by now all new computers would come with USB 3.0 exclusively.

My question is why are the computer manufacturer’s still including USB 2.0 ports on their latest models?

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]