issdiscovery04

I personally like using Avast, PC Chillin, ZA, or AVG pro. Right now i'm using AVG pro. (It's great to know people who have unused 100% legal keys for software.)As for Symantec, Symantec has arguably the one of the worst track records in the antivirus market. I've tested all sorts of antivirus programs in the past and all Norton did was install a bunch of other utilities and detect only about half of the viruses i intentionally introduced to my system. AVG and ZA caught all of the viruses.

Personally, I've had good experiences with PC-chillin, AVG, ZoneAlarm, and Avast. PC-Chillin and ZoneAlarm take up much more resources than AVG though. Norton AV is simply the worst software on the market.

Norton is the WORST antivirus program on the market. In most cases, norton makes things worse. The latest versions of norton essentially act like AOL spyware. Norton installs tons of extra crap all over the place. Norton is crappy enough so that viruses can hijack it and wreak even more hell on your computer.Do yourself a favor and get rid of it. AVG and Avast are much better than this crap

Does anyone know of a good manufacturer who has a laptop with a core 2 duo and at least a 7900GS?

In most cases with errors. If the software isn't working properly, blame the hardware. And if the hardware isn't working properly, blame the software. With M$, its blame the user.

When I bought a new computer at the end of last year I paid for the certificate that would allow me to get the vista upgrade in the mail. My plan was to install vista on an insertable drive so that I could see it first hands without putting myself in its hands.
However when I got my 64 bit Business Vista CD from Microsoft and proceded to install it, I hit a major stumbling block as far as actually using this version of windows on this computer. The driver CD that came with this P5WD2/P5LD2 Series computer, which among other things, installs the drivers for the on board sound, is refused by Windows Vista because it is not digitally signed. Well since I am not willing to do without sound, that pretty much makes Windows Vista completely useless to me.

Of course if these CDs don't work with Windows Vista, its not the manufacturer's fault. M$ has a bad habit of changing things randomly and without letting manufacturers know about these changes. Also, as for your driver that isn't signed there are ways around that. There are two methods that can fix that rather quickly. Sometimes Vista will ask you if recognize the software and will allow you to proceed after you verify that you recognize the driver. As of now, nobody has any idea why Vista sometimes gives this option and sometimes it doesn't. The funny thing is that the same driver may work on one installation of vista and then it won't work on another. The easiest way to get past this is to just disable UAC (User Access Control). UAC is responsible for the annoying pop-ups that verify that you want to execute this and that. Also, this annoying software has control over the drivers.

Ok, as a concept Vista sounded like a great decision and as a great upgrade to the Windows line of Operating Systems. However, M$ didn't do a very good job of actually turning that concept into reality. For an operating system that has many similarities in code to XP, Vista does not perform very well under any circumstances.

First of all, if anyone is ever getting Vista, don't settle for anything other than Vista Ultimate or premium. When you just put the normal consumer editions into consideration, most of the versions are just BS. Starter and Home Basic were created as part of a marketing trick. Since everyone has to pay the same price for the upgrades no matter what version you're using, if anyone buys the starter or home basic M$ just ripped you off. In my opinion only ultimate is even remotely worth buying. (I get all of them for free. Its great when you know someone who can get these legally.)

I use Logitech mouses. At the moment i'm using a G7. I've had a bunch of logitech mouses and so far only one has been broken after about 6 years of use.

Well if anyone is using an older verison of XP (i.e. a copy of XP that was NOT produced after May 2005) then retrieving files isn't a hassle. However, if a version of XP expired and is running a more recent version of WPA, then you're up the creek. In older versions, users can still log in to windows so that they can activate it. Of course this also gives the user time to retrieve all of their files. In more recent versions, windows WPA will not let you log in until you have successfully activated your copy of windows. In this case, Safe Mode will not be of any use. For more recent versions, the only option is to copy files from a networked computer (doesn't always work) or to install another OS and copy the files from there (doesn't always work due to permissions).

For the moment, Vista has many compatibility issues. Generally, video games run without too many problems. More than half of the software that can run on XP don't have too many problems on Vista but some do. However, if your using software designed for windows 2000 or before you might be out of luck.

If anyone is looking for scripts, dynamicdrive.com is also a very good site for various javascripts.Javascriptkit.com also isn't that bad though it has really gone downhill. Javascriptkit was much better about a year ago.

you do realize that many legit files are hosted on bittorrent right? i.e. trials, public domain files, open source (linux, etc)-The following is not directed towards you vhortex-Many people just consider bittorrent to be completely illegal and that all files on the network is illegal. I've seen many people become believers that everything on bittorrent is illegal due to some idiots who have no idea what they're talking about. Others just become afraid since many lawsuits have been centered around bittorrent.-end-Bittorrent technology is completely legal. Same goes for files that were originally intended for free distribution.

Sandisk's Sansa player is the best available out there.

The Sansa is a very nice player but it is well over priced. Sandisk Sansas are rather expensive and the storage isn't very large either. I can get a much better player from iriver, iaudio, or creative than the sansa for $300.

iRiver would share second place with ipod+remoteFM.

Please be kidding. It is truly degrading to compare a very good line of products to the pieces of crap known as ipods. Ipods are overpriced, lack many functions, and have horrible sound quality. The only reason why those pieces of crap sell is because of mass marketing and the domino effect.

The only time i've ever used an ipod was when i borrowed one of my friend's ipod on a long bus ride. I personally have owned a Zen Vision M, iriver, and Cowon A2. I just don't like ipods, they're expensive when compared to other players, little compatibility, and the WORST sound quality i've ever had the misfortune of listening to.

a phpBB forum should be fine

You can always try Bittorrent.

A) Sony's dev team is retarded and decided to go overboard with the PS3B) The PS3's components are too expensive and too complicated to be used to their full potential w/o forcing a developer to go bankrupt.C) Sony has had the worst PR team in history.Each move Sony makes just makes them one step closer to either a lawsuit or bankruptcy. Also, if the PS3 doesn't sell very well(which it isn't), Sony is going to drop the Playstation line completely. The only thing that's keeping the company afloat is the music industry. Sony's computer line failed, the PSP was killed in two weeks by the DS Lite, the PS3 failed, Sony looses approx $100 on every ps3, and they have a bad PR team with no understanding of laws.

For this problem you might want to just contact the manufacturer(if you get Indians then you're out of luck). Sometimes the people who are paid to build these things screw up. You might as well see if you can get a replacement if it really is a problem.

If you're going to go with that configuration, choose Windows XP Media Center Edition. XP pro is pretty much worthless. Also, if Dell does offer Windows Vista, don't choose it. Windows Vista is still extremely buggy and it won't take long for it to present the BSOD.Just be aware that Dell laptops do not last at all. It'll probably die in 2-3 years or have quite a few problems by then.

Personally, the two most hated guns for me is the Lambert Carbine and the Baur. I'm usually engineer and those guns just annihilate everyone (as long as you can aim). Then again, there's always a gun that people hate. I'm hated by those who drive tanks since i got the upgrade anti-vehicle weapon (one shot KO in the rear of the tank).

both Avast and AVG are very good anti virus programs. Norton is simply useless. Quick tip, some viruses on the market were actually made by symantec inorder to boost sales by saying that they had the only software that could protect you from it.I've actually seen Norton identify itself as a virus.

I've had the best experience with AVG. Out of Norton (which sucks), PC Chillin, and ZoneAlarm, AVG has the best performance. AVG doesn't consume a lot of resources and it works very well. The only time that you might actually experience a slow down is during a scan which is still rare. Norton was one of the biggest headaches i've ever had to deal with in the 5 minutes that i actually had it. The funniest thing ever was when i ordered norton to scan the programs file directory and it identified itself as a high-risk virus.

Most of the time when the inverter blows out, the large capacitor is just fine. Most often, one of the smaller ships or smaller capacitors blow out. From previous experiences, the same component on the same type of board ends up blowing out. For example, with compaq 1800T, one of the chips near the output side of the board usually blows out after 5-6 years.

I know that there's one good computer repair shop in Minneapolis but its been a while. Unfortunately, I've forgotten their name. However, just make sure that you don't send your computer to geek squad. I've seen others get ripped off by geek squad (i.e. overpricing and false diagnostics).Just like WeaponX said, why don't you describe the problem. There are many people on the forums that probably can help.