Assuming knowledge of the theory behind logic gates and computation, when was the earliest people could have built a working working general purpose computer? Or to put it another way, imagine a modern day chip designer is trapped on a deserted island with no access to modern technology, but access to any necessary natural resources that he could acquire by himself, how could he go about building a general purpose computer to pass the time?
posted by empath
on Sep 29, 2010 -
20 answers
i just installed a new video caRD vn240gtmd1g and its workin and stuff but now i cant move the cursor in starcraft 2 everything else worlks fine i dont know what to do can anyone help?
posted by quseio
on Sep 28, 2010 -
7 answers
How do I get a VPN (hotspotshield) to "turn off" so I can use the internet normally? Is it possible?
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posted by bearette
on Sep 27, 2010 -
5 answers
What web based email provider would you suggest as an alternative to my current one?
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posted by gman
on Sep 23, 2010 -
9 answers
i want to copy the starcraft 2 voice mp3s esp tychus in the odin but the sc2 file is one big file i cant open i would appreciate any help i could record it during gameplay i guess but it wouldnt b quite as good
posted by quseio
on Sep 20, 2010 -
8 answers
Mac OS 10.6.4 - my Disk Permissions are broken. How did this happen, and what do I need to do to fix it?
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posted by invisible ink
on Sep 16, 2010 -
3 answers
Please help me figure out how to most productively complain to Sony about my absolutely craptastic Vaio laptop.
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posted by AthenaPolias
on Sep 15, 2010 -
3 answers
My laptop computer won't play nice with my new widescreen LCD monitor. Would an external graphics card or ExpressCard help?
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posted by WyoWhy
on Sep 12, 2010 -
14 answers
Recycling Hard Drives: if I physically damage old hard drives to make them unreadable, can they still be effectively recycled if I bring them to my local e-waste center?
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posted by longdaysjourney
on Sep 8, 2010 -
7 answers
Please help me setup a laptop to be safe and secure for use in a classroom by students.
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posted by Morsey
on Sep 1, 2010 -
4 answers
i run win xp i need a3k46zam ide controller driver but i cannot find it my sound doesnt play on any speaker but for some reason headsets do ... and ive tried driver dling programs nada
posted by quseio
on Aug 30, 2010 -
3 answers
Where can I find a high-quality video of Steve Jobs introducing the original iPhone online?
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posted by mattholomew
on Aug 30, 2010 -
3 answers
Are there any really weird computers still being made for the home consumer?
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posted by Paquda
on Aug 26, 2010 -
15 answers
I have some.MOD video files (each one about 2 hrs long) that need to be burned on to a disc, stat. Windows Media players burner says it will not fit, even though the file is only 3.7 gigs and the disc can hold 4.7 gigs. When I put a DVD-R in the drive and try to drag the .MOD files into the file, it won't allow it. How can I get these videos on a DVD-R ASAP?
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posted by windbox
on Aug 25, 2010 -
4 answers
My two boys, both starting 7th grade in a couple of weeks, need computers...laptop or smaller? Smaller relates to cost?
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posted by snsranch
on Aug 21, 2010 -
27 answers
Looking for a good enterprise desktop management suite for Windows 7, that will allow us to push out updates for all apps, inventory software, etc.
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posted by GJSchaller
on Aug 18, 2010 -
6 answers
What would be the best Linux distribution for computers given to clients by a social services agency?
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posted by plungerjoke
on Aug 12, 2010 -
14 answers
Creating a bootable copy of Windows 7 64 bit on a USB drive.
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posted by 517
on Aug 10, 2010 -
8 answers
I've discovered a fraudulent computer part that I've been using in my system for nearly two years. Company refuses to service it, citing expired warranty. What recourse do I have?
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posted by polymodus
on Aug 6, 2010 -
10 answers
What do I need to do over the next two years so that I can start my own home business doing programming? I already work in Web Development for my job.
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posted by chocolatemilkshakes
on Aug 4, 2010 -
7 answers
Longshotfilter: I wanted to know what was the name of the show back in the 90's, that featured a final episode (or I think it was) based around this computer web system with a female voice. She was the mainscreen representing what we now know as the WWW and this came pretty much before the web went completely commercial. She instructed some teen to disconnect her because the human population was dying and there were only two left. Does anyone remember?
posted by InterestedInKnowing
on Jul 30, 2010 -
5 answers
I want a laptop / notebook computer with very small pixels. How do I better articulate this, and more to the point, search for it?
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posted by rkent
on Jul 29, 2010 -
10 answers
I am trying to make my mom's old Brother MFC-4300 printer/scanner/fax work with my Windows 7 machine, to no avail and with many headaches. I don't care about scan or fax; I just want to be able to print from the machine.
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posted by prior
on Jul 29, 2010 -
6 answers
Outlook 2003 question: User receives an email with graphics (newsletters, etc,) and it looks just fine. When she clicks on "Forward" or "Reply", the quoted message message strips the graphics and displays raw html code in it's place.
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posted by KevinSkomsvold
on Jul 29, 2010 -
11 answers
I've heard it said that when children are playing, they're learning. So what is that they're learning when they're Gaming?
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posted by philip-random
on Jul 27, 2010 -
41 answers
Time sensitive hardware question: I have a Biloxon SRP-370 thermal receipt printer. It uses an LPT cable. The POS computer uses lpt or com, but the software only talks to COM. Therefore, I need the printer to use COM instead. Where can I buy a com port that will fit it and get it shipped overnight?
posted by lazaruslong
on Jul 20, 2010 -
3 answers
My computer will tell me it's using so and so much RAM. When I add up the RAM usage in process manager, there's no way it's that much. Where is my RAM going?
posted by fizzzzzzzzzzzy
on Jul 16, 2010 -
6 answers
Windows Search-like functionality (hit the windows key, and type in your terms, then tap Enter)... in Linux?
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posted by Master Gunner
on Jul 16, 2010 -
19 answers
Help me find a modifiable source file for creating a Madlibs-type game in Flash.
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posted by kmtiszen
on Jul 16, 2010 -
1 answer
I need to figure out: the correct cord with which to connect my MSI Wind netbook to an older Toshiba tube-style HDTV (a... DVI-D Dual thing, or something, maybe?! + a ???), and where I can purchase such a cord. I am cord-illiterate. Halp!
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posted by Keter
on Jul 15, 2010 -
9 answers
I the hive can help me find a program that will allow me to instantly switch my desktop to any number of current setups that includes programs and files. I’m not quite sure how to boil it down to the simplest terms for searching.
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posted by studentbaker
on Jul 15, 2010 -
9 answers
A computer recording question. What will I need to turn a modern desktop PC into a multitrack studio?
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posted by jonathanbell
on Jul 15, 2010 -
14 answers
I've decided to install SP3 on my Windows XP Home version computer. But I've read horror stories about installing on an AMD machine.
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posted by bryon
on Jul 8, 2010 -
12 answers
A friend who works for a university is moving on and has to return his computer. He's thinking of using DBAN to wipe it clean but is wondering if he'll be making more work for the computer techs (and raising their suspicions about what he was using it for) by forcing them to reinstall the OS. How likely is it that the computer techs would reinstall the OS anyway before handing the computer to someone else? Is that the norm in this situation?
posted by mediareport
on Jul 2, 2010 -
43 answers
I think my MacBook has died. Help me minimize the cost/trauma/hassle of replacing it!
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posted by JoannaC
on Jun 29, 2010 -
11 answers
What file formats should we ask our ordered logo and flyer to come in?
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posted by Mroz
on Jun 29, 2010 -
19 answers
