Switching from PC to a Mac. For those who have done it: What do you wish you had known then that you know now? I know this type question has been asked before, but it looks like it's been a while. So, give me your advice warnings, horror stories, revelations, etc.
posted by te1contar on Oct 22, 2009 - 41 answers

I'm looking for a good brick & mortar computer parts retailer in or around London. [more inside]
posted by CRM114 on Aug 31, 2009 - 4 answers

My desktop computer has just died so I'm thinking of finally buying a notebook to replace it. Problem is, I know very little about the notebook 'scene' and have no real idea what's good and what's not. Out of all the notebooks available from here, which one would you get? My budget is $2000 but I'd go as high as $2500 if there was a compelling reason to do so. And if there's any extra accessories I'm really going to need, let me know. Thanks!
posted by Effigy2000 on Apr 8, 2009 - 28 answers

Can someone give me any pointers, tips, or caveats about installing BSD on sun hardware for use as a firewall/router? [more inside]
posted by Myles on Feb 1, 2009 - 6 answers

What is the cheapest pc gaming rig you can come up with that can run Left 4 Dead at a playable and decent framerate? [more inside]
posted by bettershredder on Nov 12, 2008 - 13 answers

What is the easiest, most foolproof way to move files and programs from an old PC computer (XP) to a new one (presumably Vista, sigh). [more inside]
posted by JoanArkham on Oct 24, 2008 - 14 answers

I just cobbled together a computer for the first time, and while it powers up OK (fans and drives awhirring) I get nothing on the screen. No signal input. What did I mess up? Did I kill my CPU? [more inside]
posted by saguaro on Oct 17, 2008 - 12 answers

Nasty, sticky virus that won't go away! The virus scan says it is called 'win.32.Agent.pz' and we've thrown everything we've got at it to get rid of it - Spybot (also in safe mode) and ESET - and it won't go away. Help! [more inside]
posted by cooker girl on Oct 7, 2008 - 12 answers

Mac/PC Internet Sharing: My work PC (running XP) has an internet connect, but no wireless. Is there a way to connect my MacBook Air to my PC via USB so that my Mac can use my PC's internet connection? [more inside]
posted by lionelhutz5 on Aug 18, 2008 - 11 answers

How do computer speeds vary with different core counts? Is a twin core 3000 as fast as a single core 6000? What about a quad core? Is there any point in multicore chips for home use and gaming, or does this need fancy threaded software to take advantage of it?
posted by talitha_kumi on Jul 31, 2008 - 11 answers

EEE PC Filter: Where can I buy one of the new Asus 901 EEE PCs, in London? Preferably today. [more inside]
posted by bollockovnikov on Jul 7, 2008 - 6 answers

I've got an old 486 laptop, 75MHz, a whopping 8Mb of RAM, Windows 95 installed, floppy drive (no CD), no USB ports (but does have PC card slot). Charities won't take it. Is there anything useful I could conceivably do with it, other than using at as a doorstop?
posted by hatmandu on May 30, 2008 - 20 answers

2 used laptops: what to do with them? One will be new to me (from my wonderful girlfriend), one will be new to my grandma (from me) [more inside]
posted by whiskey point on Apr 8, 2008 - 14 answers

I have a Mac laptop, which replaced my PC which I used for many years.....I recently found out that there is some files and such on my PC that I need to take of my computer and store onto my new external hard drive....Yes, I should of did this before hand.... [more inside]
posted by TwilightKid on Sep 20, 2007 - 12 answers

My PC is sick. Before I repair it, I want to build a new one to use while I work on it. I'm thinking of a HTPC sort of thing. Something I can use on the desktop in the office if need be, but also small and quiet enough to move to the living room and still powerful enough to run modern 3d games. I don't need the latest, fastest framerates, but it would be nice to have the option of playing some modern first person shooters. [more inside]
posted by PeterMcDermott on Aug 9, 2007 - 3 answers

Easy question: I've been forced to move to a PC with Windows XP from a Mac. Your PC tips and tricks please!? [more inside]
posted by dearest on Jun 5, 2007 - 34 answers

Help me to fix/setup/keep running a network of 4 computers the easy way. [more inside]
posted by djstig on Jun 3, 2007 - 4 answers

I'm a power user, but I am NOT at all a gamer. Would I still benefit from buying a "gaming PC" (Dell XPS 710)? Or, would I just be an idiot who wasted money on something they didn't need/won't use? [more inside]
posted by creative on May 5, 2007 - 27 answers

What are the most energy-efficient microprocessors currently available in mass-market PCs/laptops? [more inside]
posted by nyterrant on Apr 12, 2007 - 5 answers

Where has my Outlook New Mail notification on the taskbar gone? [more inside]
posted by antifuse on Feb 22, 2007 - 5 answers

I want to put a new HDD in an old PC and would like to know how. (But please teach me to fish...) [more inside]
posted by Busy Old Fool on Jan 13, 2007 - 17 answers

Linksys WRT54G Wireless Router + Comcast Broadband connection. My Comcast connection will not allow the internet to flow through the wireless router [more inside]
posted by MasonDixon on Oct 20, 2006 - 14 answers

Help me find out the specs of our offsite computers. [more inside]
posted by chiababe on Sep 8, 2006 - 7 answers

What are some great sites for teaching people the basics of computer specs? [more inside]
posted by IndigoRain on Aug 11, 2006 - 8 answers

I have a client who wants to be able to run his PC with the desktop extended over 4 monitors...all for the purpose of playing multiple hands of online poker. What is the easiest way to technically accomplish this?
posted by titans13 on Jul 7, 2006 - 20 answers

ParentTechFilter: Help me do remote tech support on my poor Luddite parents' computers. [more inside]
posted by weirdoactor on Jun 29, 2006 - 17 answers

[Relatively] cheap alternative to PC? My parents are moving... [more inside]
posted by exlotuseater on Apr 15, 2006 - 14 answers

Buying a computer, don't want to spend too much, but want to be able to play Spore when it comes out. [more inside]
posted by commander_cool on Mar 23, 2006 - 19 answers

One of our PCs is having major problems at boot up, and when it does boot, does not recognize the slave drive hard disc. After working normally for a couple of house, it often goes to a blue screen with a “kernel_data_inpage_error” messages [more inside]
posted by zaelic on Mar 13, 2006 - 11 answers

This may be slightly premature, but would it possible to install Windows onto one of the new Macintel platforms and so have an OS X/XP dualbooting machine? [more inside]
posted by Tikirific on Jan 11, 2006 - 20 answers

Another Mac/PC question. I want to switch back to Mac, but my office is all PC. Help me figure out if a Mac will be compatible, and if it's worth the trouble. (I know it's been asked before, but I have specific questions.) [more inside]
posted by kdern on Dec 29, 2005 - 20 answers

My computer is freezing intermittently. My gut says it's a software problem. Is there some sort of "black box" program to help figure out which program is the culprit? [more inside]
posted by blue_wardrobe on Nov 22, 2005 - 13 answers

What PC games don't require any installation whatsoever? Or put another way, what PC games could I burn to CD/DVD and play on a system that I don't want to copy any files to? Linux-plus-games-on-a-DVD suggestions are also welcomed, although I would prefer games that would run on an existing XP installation.
posted by Jairus on Jan 22, 2005 - 12 answers

Laptop Clean XP Install:
1] My (on board?) sound card is unrecognised. How do I find out what drivers to use?

2] What programs do you really think I need? I already have VNC, VLC, Firefox, Thunderbird and AVG installed. What else should I add? (Freeware/OS appriciated but not needed.) [more inside]
posted by twine42 on Dec 16, 2004 - 8 answers

Let's say you had a wooden box you wanted to turn into a PC case. Where would you buy a metal 5.25" bay assembly? I'm talking about a U-shaped piece of flat metal that will screw onto the wood box wherein a couple of drives can be mounted. There's just way too much noise in Google on this one. Thanks!
posted by scarabic on Nov 19, 2004 - 7 answers

The TiVo is upstairs, the computer downstairs. Is there a product (or hack) that will let me turn on my PC remotely so I can use the home media features of the TiVo without lugging my lazy ass downstairs to turn on the PC? (More Inside) [more inside]
posted by bondcliff on Aug 31, 2004 - 3 answers

I want to build my next PC instead of buying one off the shelf. Your assistance is requested. (mi) [more inside]
posted by chiababe on Aug 18, 2004 - 34 answers

Risks in putting a win2k drive in a new motherboard? I understand this is possible by either doing a repair/reinstall and pulling the drive out before reboot or using MS's sysprep tool, but has anyone done this? I'm assuming this is a risky operation and I should probably ghost the drive before attempting it, but if anyone has some tips or lessons of experience to share I would appreciate it.
posted by skallas on Aug 6, 2004 - 6 answers

A bit of a companion to the MMORPG question, can you recommend a few good PC RPGs that are self-contained? I love MMORPGs, but just can't afford the monthly fees anymore. {More Inside} [more inside]
posted by headspace on Jul 11, 2004 - 17 answers

DVD authoring software? [more inside]
posted by muckster on May 4, 2004 - 7 answers

Is there a way to recover files from CPM? [more inside] [more inside]
posted by casarkos on Mar 15, 2004 - 3 answers

I use a whole bunch of PC's - three mainly, my laptop at work, and a desktop and laptop at home...I'd like to find a way of keeping my favorites synchronised on all three OR keeping them all in one place on the web and being able to access them...oh, and I'd like the solution to be 'free' and look cool...(is there an easy way to harvest the 500 favorites on my work laptop - and turn them into a web page?)

I use IE6 on all of my PC's....but some web based solution would allow me to access all my links from other machines/browsers.
posted by mattr on Mar 10, 2004 - 8 answers

I have a PC that I use to test web sites on Windows browsers (my main computer's a Mac). I tried to upgrade to Windows XP, and the XP installer seems to have wrecked the hard drive. Should I replace my hard drive or buy a new computer? [sketchy details inside] [more inside]
posted by kirkaracha on Jan 27, 2004 - 8 answers

I used to use winVNC to access my home PC from any web enabled computer. [more...] [more inside]
posted by grumblebee on Jan 3, 2004 - 13 answers