I recently bought a laptop, and would like to know the easiest way to allow everything on my laptop to be acccessible on my PC, and vice versa. Windows file sharing won't cut it.
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posted by borkencode
on Mar 5, 2005 -
6 answers
I've been racking my brain (and the internet) trying to figure out how to turn the touchpad on my new laptop into a defacto pen input device. Any ideas?
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posted by stratastar
on Mar 5, 2005 -
10 answers
Laptop lockup whodunnit: the power to the hard drive, the hard drive itself, or something else entirely? Help! [+]
posted by gramcracker
on Feb 16, 2005 -
3 answers
The keyboard settings on my laptop changed (seemingly without cause or explanation) in the middle of a computing session. Did I do something to cause this? How do I fix it? [MI]
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posted by jeffmshaw
on Feb 16, 2005 -
7 answers
I have a Toshiba e310, that mysteriously stopped starting up when I turned it on. It's not completely dead, it comes up with the default bootscreen and then just sits there. Windows XP detects an unknown device, and that's it. I've tried doing a hard reset, soft reset, and letting the battery drain. Is there any use for it? Does anyone know of a way to recover it?
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posted by jackofsaxons
on Feb 13, 2005 -
5 answers
My PowerBook is shocking my delicate forearms. The light silver paint on front edge of the laptop is majorly wearing off. What's a quick and inexpensive way to fix it? [+]
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posted by ArsncHeart
on Feb 4, 2005 -
9 answers
The family and I will emabark on a 8-9 month world trip in August. This trip will occur mostly in the developing world. Despite reading all kinds of advice about leaving behind the gadgets, we intend on taking a basic 12" laptop, a cell phone and a PDA. Should We take a
leap into the unknown or should we stick to the
safe and familiar"? [MI]
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posted by Hash
on Feb 1, 2005 -
21 answers
Driver problem. I recently got a used laptop that included a 11Wave (by WaveBuddy) PCMCIA wireless card. Installation problems inside.
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posted by drezdn
on Jan 22, 2005 -
1 answer
I have an iBook whose audio jack has been accidentally jammed inwards. The jack still works, but the internal sound won't play -- because now it always thinks headphones are on. Is there a software workaround, or a remedy using tweezers?
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posted by inksyndicate
on Jan 19, 2005 -
4 answers
DoesThisExistFilter: I’m looking for something to keep my electronic gear cool in the car this summer. More inside.
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posted by baltimore
on Jan 16, 2005 -
4 answers
I have a laptop I love; however, the letters on the keyboard are wearing off. It's not a huge problem for me right now, but whenever anyone else uses it (my spouse, my daughter), it's really frustrating for them to figure out where those missing letters are -- and I could see that down the road it could be a pain for me as well. Is there a safe way I could, say, paint the letters back on? Do I have to buy a new keyboard? Individual letter keys?
posted by mothershock
on Jan 16, 2005 -
13 answers
Wi-fi woes. My XP laptop connects to the Web on my open home network, but I've had problems connecting to other open networks elsewhere. [MORE INSIDE]
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posted by timnyc
on Jan 8, 2005 -
1 answer
How do you clean your Mac Powerbook screen? Mine is dusty.
posted by cahlers
on Dec 18, 2004 -
13 answers
I've been thinking of upgrading the memory in my Sony Vaio PCG-GR370 laptop for some time now, but recently it came to my attention that there may be issues with some vaios that do not recognize memory above 256Mb (which is what I currently have in it). I attempted a google for issues with it, but, well... Just try search for "sony vaio memory 512" on google and you'll see how useful it is.
Which brings me to my question: Does anyone know anything about said issues with vaios? If so, do they apply to me?
posted by ChrisR
on Dec 17, 2004 -
4 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.)
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posted by twine42
on Dec 16, 2004 -
8 answers
Can you upgrade your laptop's video card at all? I was curious as I have a 32mb NVidea card on it however I'd love to upgrade it. Is this possible or is there a way to enhance it's performance? (I'm 99.9% the answer is "NO" but I thought I'd ask)
posted by Hands of Manos
on Dec 14, 2004 -
11 answers
One of the things I like most about my iBook is that the wireless adapter is internal and doesn't protrude from the system. Does anyone know of a PCMCIA 802.11b (or g) WiFi adapter for a PC laptop that doesn't protrude beyond the PC card slot?
posted by mrbill
on Dec 12, 2004 -
11 answers
I'm looking for a light laptop (< 4lbs) to do basic work when at labs. cd/dvd a bonus (not required), hd > 10 Gb, RAM ideally >= 256 Mb, wireless inbuilt or pcmia slot. Budget ~$500. Extendable battery availability would be nice. Does anyone have any recommendations on good 2nd/3rd gen models?
posted by Mossy
on Dec 7, 2004 -
15 answers
Apropos of my earlier inquiry regarding a new laptop purchase, can anyone here fill me in on the possible consequences of IBM's sale of its PC division for IBM oweners? If I buy an IBM laptop now, am I setting myself up for possible doom as far as warranty coverage and tech support go?
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posted by foxy_hedgehog
on Dec 3, 2004 -
4 answers
My laptop screensaver exits after a random amount of time, for no apparent reason - usually after less than 1 minute. Anybody know of specific programs that run in the background that might be responsible? Searching Google gives me a ton of free screensavers, but no help finding out why they won't work.
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posted by caution live frogs
on Dec 2, 2004 -
4 answers
So, I've come to the decision that I need a laptop, and I need to get it sometime within the next month. It's not quite as simple as all that, though, because I'm trying to find a good deal... [more inside]
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posted by wanderingmind
on Nov 22, 2004 -
19 answers
I'm thinking of getting myself a new laptop to play with. Do I want to switch? [
Intel More Inside]
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posted by coriolisdave
on Nov 21, 2004 -
9 answers
Windows users: What's your screen resolution? Are you using clear type? Sometimes I find I cant get anything done unless I'm at 800x600 and with clear type off, but when I'm not working, coding, writing, etc I really like the higher resolution and nicer fonts. What gives?
posted by skallas
on Nov 20, 2004 -
42 answers
I recently replaced the battery in my old Dell Inspiron 4000. Today I noticed that the led on the power adapter goes off if the battery is in the machine and the machine says it is running on batteries. If I unplug the battery the computer turns off. I am able to boot on AC power but the moment I insert the battery the adapter stops working. I think this is new otherwise the battery would've drained days ago. Has anyone encountered this before? Any ideas? Also, if the computer is off and I plug the adapter into it while the battery is also present, the led on the adapter goes out. If I then remove the battery and attempt to boot the machine, nothing happens. This is very weird.
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posted by Grod
on Nov 20, 2004 -
2 answers
Powerbook Titanium Keyboard Question: Hitting certain keys on my laptop results in a string of weird symbols and line breaks. Any ideas on what the problem is and what I can do about it? (MI)
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posted by buddha9090
on Nov 18, 2004 -
3 answers
First, a
follow-up. I'm going back to school this spring! Thanks for the words of wisdom and encouragement, guys! I'm probably going to be studying either history (with the goal of teaching) or photojournalism, but I haven't decided for sure yet.
Secondly, I'm contemplating getting a laptop for my return to collegiate life. Are they as useful and omnipresent in college life as they seem to be? If so, what laptop do you recommend? I must admit, I have become
iCurious. Will I have problems networking with my XP machine if I go the Mac route? If I don't, what manufacturer do you recommend? My budget is $1000 or below, but I could go up to $1500 if you give me a really compelling reason.
posted by keswick
on Nov 11, 2004 -
20 answers
New Laptop. I have a new laptop waiting for me (Dell/WinXP) when I get home next week and I want to treat this one right. The one I have now is three years old and has served its purpose, but has been stumbling lately. Any tips on making your laptop last longer? (specifics inside)
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posted by jonah
on Oct 31, 2004 -
15 answers
Uses for an unstable PC? A department manager purchased a laptop, I won't say what brand, about a year and a half ago. It's had new RAM and two new hard drives. The power socket is coming off the motherboard. It wasn't cheap and is more powerful than some of the other laptops currently in use. However, you can't be sure it's going to start up on any given morning. We would normally add old laptops to a pool of portable equipment used by our 70+ lecturing staff, but they have enough problems with working equipment. There are several interesting hobbyist projects I could pursue (a digital picture frame springs to mind), but I'd like to at least attempt some sort of work-related deployment when he breaks down and buys a new laptop. Any ideas?
posted by krisjohn
on Oct 27, 2004 -
7 answers
WinXP: my laptop downloaded a windows update (not sure what sort). Now, when I shut down, it tries to update my machine. I get a message saying that Windows is updating, and it advises me NOT to turn off my machine until it's done. But it continues to "update" forever. I've let it sit for two hours, and it still claims to be updating. Finally, with clenched teeth, I shut off the machine and rebooted. Everything seems okay. Now, whenever I shut down, it asks me if I want to install the upgrade or not. If I say yes, the machine stalls on that upgrading message. If I say no, it shuts down fine. I'm ok with saying no all the time, except that now I can't ever add any new updates. What should I do?
posted by grumblebee
on Oct 27, 2004 -
14 answers
MacHeads: I'm a good son and am going to get my mom a laptop. All she does is play Mahjong, and shop/check e-mail online. I've had unusually bad luck with Toshiba widescreen laptops for her, and a Compaq. All were taken back because of fundamental problems (blue screening, wireless card with crappy range). I'm wanting to stick around $1000. How's the standard 12-inch iBook? Good wireless range? Is the 256MB of RAM enough for a Mac? I'd go up to the 14-inch iBook if I won't be spending another $200 to get it up to spec. Thanks!
posted by geoff.
on Oct 26, 2004 -
18 answers
I'm in the process of writing a grant for a projector and laptop to run it. It's for a small rural fire department and the total budget is roughly 4.5k. I need two prices for each and know nothing about projectors -- I'm looking for a well regarded projector manufacturer and two good online retailers selling the brand. The laptop isn't an issue, I'll use Dell and IBM (I know there are better sources but these folks like names they've heard of).
posted by cedar
on Sep 29, 2004 -
4 answers
Do you use your laptop in your car? [Inside, there is certain to be more]
posted by mecran01
on Sep 28, 2004 -
18 answers
I'm going to be travelling/out in public with my notebook computer a lot in the next month. Any tips? [more inside]
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posted by wackybrit
on Sep 27, 2004 -
12 answers
My girlfriend took her work laptop (running XP Pro) home, and I thoughfully messed with the settings when she left it on the table.
I switched the computer from her work domain to our home workgroup in an effort to transfer some mp3s from our central computer. Of course, the settings wouldn't take effect until I restarted. So I did. Now, I can't get past the login screen-- it tells me that it can't log in and to make sure that the domain and password are correct.
What do I do, besides make her call tech support first thing tomorrow?
posted by Mayor Curley
on Sep 26, 2004 -
15 answers
I want to watch TV on my laptop via wifi. Does anyone know how I can do this? For example, Toshiba's new Qosmio laptops come with a 'Wifi TV Router'. Does anyone else make a WiFi TV router? Or, alternatively, I have another computer with a TV card in it. What software could I install to stream the live TV signal from my server? I know there are streaming video products, but I don't know if any of them can also handle changing channels on a live TV stream. Any helpful suggestions appreciated. Thanks!
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posted by PigAlien
on Sep 1, 2004 -
3 answers
My laptop can no longer receive the Internet! The internet comes, via DSL, into my DESKTOP pc. The Desktop's DSL modem is hooked up to a LinkSys Wireless-B router, which broadcasts the Internet signal to my laptop. The lights on the LynkSys are blinking as usual. My desktop is receiving the web just fine. My laptop IS showing the little "connected" (two-computers) icon in the system tray, and when I hover over it, it says "Wireless Network Connection... Speed 11.0 Mbps, Signal Strength: Excellent." But when I start of a browser, I can't get to any page. I CAN get to the same pages on my desktop. Help!
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posted by grumblebee
on Aug 30, 2004 -
11 answers
PouredSodaInMyLaptopFilter: Thanks to a remarkable gust of wind, I managed to deposit about 1/2 of a Coca-Cola into my the right third of my laptop keyboard. Now the keys stick. Ideas? (inside)
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posted by Sinner
on Aug 25, 2004 -
10 answers
I'm thinking about purchasing my first laptop. All I want it to do is allow me to check email on the road, and maybe play DVDs. Is there a super-stripped down model I can get on the cheap? Should I buy something used? How much "fat" can I cut and still have a machine that will last a few years?
posted by JoanArkham
on Aug 23, 2004 -
14 answers
A USB 2.0 card reader is causing my Windows 2000 laptop to completely hang up. [mi]
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posted by alidarbac
on Aug 16, 2004 -
1 answer
I'm hearing a horrible sound from my iBook all of a sudden. It sounds like the lever that moves the HD heads snapping back and forth repeatedly. It doesn't wholly interfere with the operation of the computer or crash it or anything (yet). It does seem to be coming from the front left side of the laptop, where the HD is located. What is happening? What sort of repair am I looking at, worst-case? Anything I can do?
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posted by scarabic
on Aug 16, 2004 -
13 answers
Dedicated Mac user needs to perform Wintel-only dev work, needs new laptop. Thinkpad, or iBook/Powerbook?
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posted by mwhybark
on Aug 13, 2004 -
15 answers
Is there anything I can do to make my laptop battery last longer? I've had two HP laptops, and within months the batteries in both of them stopped holding a full charge. Presently, the icon indicates a fully charged battery, but when I unplug the laptop the battery dies within 30 minutes. Is this an HP specific problem? Is there a "better" kind of battery I can buy?
posted by Harvey Birdman
on Aug 12, 2004 -
10 answers
Laptop Music filter- Can you help me pick out a computer to make music on [mi]?
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posted by drezdn
on Aug 9, 2004 -
9 answers
I finally took the plunge into Linux (Fedore Core) and
almost everything went perfectly, except for my screen. Using a sony laptop with a ATI Raidon 345m graphics card, which I have found is not directly supported by Sony or ATI. However, any linux techies know how to fix it? I can view stuff, but FC likes to reduce my screen size and if I mess around to make it bigger, then the enlarged screen image burns onto my screen which I'm guessing is not a good thing in the long run. Anyone help or solved this problem in the past? (Also assume while I know a lot about Windows, but know nothing about the functionality of Linux).
posted by jmd82
on Aug 4, 2004 -
10 answers
