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
What rackmountable or blade hardware vendor has the best support for hardware monitoring x86 Linux?
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posted by jrishel
on Jul 18, 2010 -
7 answers
How can I reattach my mailbox door? It was originally attached with pop rivets (I think) but they rusted. It's a really nice mailbox, and we don't want to replace it.
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posted by ivey
on Jul 7, 2010 -
11 answers
I've come in possession of a Cisco MCS 7800 series server that I'd like to set up as a file server, but I'd like to upgrade it first.
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posted by eatcake
on Jun 16, 2010 -
9 answers
Hardware-level hard drive data recovery. Anyone in the business care to share for a DIY attempt?
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posted by zippy
on Jun 3, 2010 -
13 answers
I have a HP Mini 110 with a 160 GB HD running Ubuntu. I'm pretty happy with it, but I don't really need all that space (currently I'm filling a tiny portion of it) and would prefer a faster boot time. What kind of improvements in speed should I expect if I swap out the hard drive with an SSD? What is the level of expense and difficulty involved in the install? Would I be better off just getting a newer notebook with an SSD already installed? What is the best source for a suitable SSD?
posted by Artw
on May 10, 2010 -
15 answers
Where can I obtain a floor-mounted overhead frame to allow me to hang things overhead in my room?
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posted by jinatrix
on May 2, 2010 -
6 answers
How do I make videos like the ones at
http://www.khanacademy.org/ (i.e., real-time voice and free-hand virtual blackboard with colors?) Windows suggestions and Mac suggestions and hardware suggestions, please! (I understand he's doing all sorts of analytics and javascript stuff, but I'm just interested in the screencasting workflow basics.)
posted by zeek321
on Apr 18, 2010 -
4 answers
Buying a used laptop. What can I do to ensure I'm not buying a ticking timebomb?
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posted by jluce50
on Apr 16, 2010 -
5 answers
Suppose I'm thinking of purchasing an e-book reader (or an iPad/tablet), and my primary hesitation is that I don't want to buy a bunch of e-books in a format that (1) will someday be useless or unreadable or (2) will lock me into a specific brand of hardware forever. What do I need to know?
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posted by Pater Aletheias
on Apr 8, 2010 -
20 answers
Please help me make this computer run faster. It's running Windows XP, and I'll tell you everything else I know inside.
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posted by desjardins
on Apr 7, 2010 -
18 answers
Two annoying MacBook Pro (2008) hardware issues/questions, one involving Boot Camp, the other an ExpressCard/34 serial adapter.
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posted by mosk
on Apr 1, 2010 -
2 answers
I'm looking for a book, site or online course notes that explain PC architecture in a moderate amount of detail. Details inside.
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posted by gadha
on Mar 31, 2010 -
3 answers
I am moving across the country in a few weeks. I had these two VERY old desktop computers that I have completely taken apart. Now I have this box full of hard drives, boards, wires, etc. I want to dispose of them securely...
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posted by eric1200
on Mar 26, 2010 -
12 answers
Are there any blogs about open-source hardware/software products?
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posted by tmcw
on Mar 14, 2010 -
3 answers
I want to hook up a bunch of force gauges (or accelerometers?) to PureData--what's the cheapest way to do this?
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posted by Squid Voltaire
on Mar 4, 2010 -
6 answers
I'm at my wits' end trying to solve this computer problem. The system will not boot to any OS install CD (Windows 7 Pro x64, Ubuntu 9.10 x86, Ubuntu 9.10 x64) even after a total hardware replacement.
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posted by Ziggy Zaga
on Feb 27, 2010 -
10 answers
My headphones keep running into the same problem: after several months of use, one side stops working. Why does this happen, and how can I fix them?
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posted by WalterMitty
on Feb 22, 2010 -
16 answers
Is it possible to lock one input device [mouse / tablet] to a single display?
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posted by n3rt
on Jan 29, 2010 -
4 answers
I've got Weslock doorknobs in my new house... which I can remove
easily, except for the ones with privacy latches, like the bathroom doors. The privacy latch is a little button on the side of the door with the collar that's supposed to rotate so that you can access the screws underneath it. How do I get it out of my way?
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posted by SpecialK
on Jan 20, 2010 -
12 answers
How will Apple fix this problem with my laptop's fan (possibly logic board and/or hard drive), and how long will it take?
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posted by autoclavicle
on Jan 16, 2010 -
5 answers
Computer power supply conundrum. We need to convert SATA power (male) to old school Molex (female) and we need to add another 12" of length. I can't seem to find a single cable that meets our needs.
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posted by advicepig
on Jan 13, 2010 -
4 answers
Help me hivemind! I have a driver issue with Windows 7 and a Soundblaster sound card... horrors of hardware details after the jump.
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posted by strixus
on Jan 10, 2010 -
1 answer
My new homebuilt PC is DOA (Dead on Assembly). Athlon dual core with an ASUS motherboard, GeForce 9500 and 2 GB of RAM. It is a barebones kit from Tiger Direct, so I shouldn't have any imcompatible parts.
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posted by COD
on Dec 12, 2009 -
9 answers
Can you recommend some good stores like http://www.goldmine-elec.com/ and http://www.sparkfun.com/
I'm looking for little motors, gears, metal rods, rubber rollers/grommets as well as electrical components.
posted by Charlie Lesoine
on Dec 3, 2009 -
20 answers
I'm trying to get my old files off of an old Hard-disk. Old PC is XP newer PC is Vista. I removed the Hardisk from the OLD computer. I bought a USB to SATA/IDE cable. When I plug in the Hard-disk via USB, I hear the confirmation tone that you hear everytime you plug in a USB. I see a "ST340082 0AS SCSI Disk Device" in the "Safely remove hardware" icon in the tray. but I do not see the Drive. I can't really afford an External Hard drive. But I will eventually if I have to. Cna anyone help me please.
posted by Student of Man
on Oct 27, 2009 -
12 answers
emergency translation alert: What phrase would a Latin American Spanish speaker use to describe the following piece of closet hardware:
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posted by Chrischris
on Oct 15, 2009 -
2 answers
The best way to go from knowing how to put a computer together out of the box but nothing else, to understanding how the 'innards' work?
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posted by malibustacey9999
on Oct 5, 2009 -
16 answers
Every day I need to transfer a piece of equipment from a dolly to
another piece of equipment. It weighs about 50 kg (~100 lbs). How can
I do this safely and with minimal strain?
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posted by dmd
on Sep 29, 2009 -
13 answers
The hinge on my partner's new unibody MacBook Pro is just-loose-enough to make using it in bed annoying. Solutions, cases or a hack welcomed.
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posted by lonefrontranger
on Sep 19, 2009 -
24 answers
What are the relative advantages and disadvantages of creating an iPhone/smartphone application vs. building a dedicated device?
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posted by jplane
on Sep 17, 2009 -
15 answers
I scrapped all my junk computers together and made the most rag tag beowulf cluster ever in my living room. Mostly as a conversation starter. But now I have to figure out what to have it working on. What's something that will sound really cool?
posted by brenton
on Sep 12, 2009 -
10 answers
I have a bunch of HDTV shows recorded on a HD DVR. How can I make a video compilation without knowing anything about video editing? Complication: Linux household.
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posted by halogen
on Sep 11, 2009 -
5 answers
What's the best DVD burner? I need a new DVD burner, is there any reason I should buy one model over another, or should I just get whatever's on sale today?
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posted by davr
on Sep 10, 2009 -
9 answers
I want to help my aunt get set up with DSL service. She has phone service with AT&T and DSL is available in her area. Her computer is an HP Pavillion that is about 6 yrs. old running XP. To avoid her having to pay AT&T's $200 fee for a tech to come out and get her going, what can I do from a hardware standpoint? Does DSL use an Ethernet port or a dial-up modem port? Should I buy her a DSL modem or will AT&T provide one? Sorry for these NooB questions as I've only dealt with cable Internet service. Thanks.
posted by jingo74
on Sep 3, 2009 -
7 answers
