Archived CalgaryPuck Computer Help Thread

[Sled]

Processor :Intel Core™2 Duo Processor E6320 1.86GHz w/ 4MB Cache1

$209.95

$209.95

CPU Heatsink / Fan :Intel Retail Heatsink and Fan1

$0.00

$0.00

Motherboards :Gigabyte GA-945GME-DS2 (rev. 2.0) w/ DualDDR2, Video, 7.1 Audio, Gigabit Lan, PCI-E1

$109.95

$109.95

Memory :Kingston 1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM2

$52.95

$105.90

Case :Antec Sonata II w/ 450W SmartPower 2.01

$119.95

$119.95

Power Supplies :Antec 450W SmartPower 2.0 Power Supply Included with Case1

$0.00

$0.00

Hard Drives 1 :Seagate 320GB Barracuda 7200.10 ATA w/ 16MB Cache1

$99.95

$99.95

Hard Drives 2 :None0

$0.00

$0.00

Optical Drive 1 :LG Super Multi DVD Writer 18x18x10 DVD +/-RW Dual-Layer, Black (OEM)1

$37.95

$37.95

Optical Drive 2 :None0

$0.00

$0.00

Video Cards :Onboard Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 9501

$0.00

$0.00

Monitors :LG Flatron L204WTX 20in Widescreen LCD w/ DVI, 5ms, 2000:1 Contrast, Silver-Black1

$279.95

$279.95

Sound Cards :Onboard 8-Channel 7.1 Audio1

$0.00

$0.00

Ethernet Cards :Onboard 100/1000 Gigabit Lan1

$0.00

$0.00

Operating System :Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition w/ SP2B, OEM1

$109.95

$109.95

Assembly :Please Assemble Hardware + Load my O/S1

$60.00

$60.00

Office Ready PC :Microsoft Office Ready Pre-installed (Limited Time Trial w/ Systems Only) [$0.00]1

$0.00

$0.00

Warranty :Memory Express 2-Year IPR Plan for PC Systems from $751-$10001

$79.95

$79.95

Grand Total: $1309

This machine is not going to be a major gaming one (WoW and Blizzard games). Mostly for digital multimedia and surfing

What do you guys think? Is there anything I over bought or should upgrade?

[4X4]

Originally Posted by ricosuave

^
no, but when you do get it, id love to see it.

is it the one where he says 'gonna rain!'

Yes.

Tomorrow my sister is getting married and I think that Ollie may have the correct forecast for her. I want to email it to her phone.

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

How is it encoded? (what is the extension?)

For quick and dirty, you may be able to use Windows Movie Maker. To get more in depth DScaler can be used.

The extension is .mpg

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Sled

Processor :Intel Core™2 Duo Processor E6320 1.86GHz w/ 4MB Cache1

$209.95

$209.95

CPU Heatsink / Fan :Intel Retail Heatsink and Fan1

$0.00

$0.00

Motherboards :Gigabyte GA-945GME-DS2 (rev. 2.0) w/ DualDDR2, Video, 7.1 Audio, Gigabit Lan, PCI-E1

$109.95

$109.95

Memory :Kingston 1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM2

$52.95

$105.90

Case :Antec Sonata II w/ 450W SmartPower 2.01

$119.95

$119.95

Power Supplies :Antec 450W SmartPower 2.0 Power Supply Included with Case1

$0.00

$0.00

Hard Drives 1 :Seagate 320GB Barracuda 7200.10 ATA w/ 16MB Cache1

$99.95

$99.95

Hard Drives 2 :None0

$0.00

$0.00

Optical Drive 1 :LG Super Multi DVD Writer 18x18x10 DVD +/-RW Dual-Layer, Black (OEM)1

$37.95

$37.95

Optical Drive 2 :None0

$0.00

$0.00

Video Cards :Onboard Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 9501

$0.00

$0.00

Monitors :LG Flatron L204WTX 20in Widescreen LCD w/ DVI, 5ms, 2000:1 Contrast, Silver-Black1

$279.95

$279.95

Sound Cards :Onboard 8-Channel 7.1 Audio1

$0.00

$0.00

Ethernet Cards :Onboard 100/1000 Gigabit Lan1

$0.00

$0.00

Operating System :Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition w/ SP2B, OEM1

$109.95

$109.95

Assembly :Please Assemble Hardware + Load my O/S1

$60.00

$60.00

Office Ready PC :Microsoft Office Ready Pre-installed (Limited Time Trial w/ Systems Only) [$0.00]1

$0.00

$0.00

Warranty :Memory Express 2-Year IPR Plan for PC Systems from $751-$10001

$79.95

$79.95

Grand Total: $1309

This machine is not going to be a major gaming one (WoW and Blizzard games). Mostly for digital multimedia and surfing

What do you guys think? Is there anything I over bought or should upgrade?

I've been looking into a new computer also, so here's my thoughts.
For multimedia, I'd make sure my monitor is HDCP compliant.
I'd also get a different MB without onboard video, that I could overclock, if I need it in the future.
I'd get an nvidia 8600 or 8500 video card, that is HDCP also.
Your prices look good but if the company price matches, here's a good site giving different prices in Canada.

http://www.shopbot.ca/computers.html

I'd make sure the 2GB of memory are a kit, so you have dual channel.

[Vulcan]

Sled, here's a system with better motherboard, memory, processor and video card for less money, but no monitor. Just another alternative.

http://www.anitec.ca/systemconfig/12/

[LockedOut]

Damn. I can't believe how cheap memory is now. Wish I waited an extra month and a half. I would've saved over $100 on my 2x1 Gig sticks.

[Ayrahb]

Originally Posted by Tilley

My laptop managed to get a virus that I can't kick and I need some help. Every program I try to open (Word, Excel, etc) asks me to identify a program to open the file. The option to find a program on the internet to open the file is fruitless.

I tried to download antivirus software (my current antivirus was disabled) but again I cannot run the program because it cannot locate a program to open an .exe file.

SirCam virus might cause such problems and it shows up in this registry key, according to MS: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command

Look for: C:\recycled\sirc32.exe "%1" %*

Full KB article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q311446/

Do you have a bootable antivirus CD? If not you could have someone make one for you, see Symantec's instructions at:
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT...02102115095448.

[Robbob]

Hey guys I was wondering if you can help me with something. I'm trying to get to the BMO website but it won't take me there. It says it can't find it. At first I thought it was their web site but when I tried on my parents comp it wwent there. I can go to other bank websites just not BMO for some reason? Any ideas?

I tried deleting cookies and stuff already.

[Ayrahb]

Originally Posted by Robbob

Hey guys I was wondering if you can help me with something. I'm trying to get to the BMO website but it won't take me there. It says it can't find it. At first I thought it was their web site but when I tried on my parents comp it wwent there. I can go to other bank websites just not BMO for some reason? Any ideas?

I tried deleting cookies and stuff already.

I was able to replicate your problem in IE7 setting the security level to "high". Have you played with security settings recently?

Typing BMO.com redirects you to www4.bmo.com. Are you able to to connect using that URL?

[Juventus3]

Where's a good place in the city to upgrade a mac? (bigger HD and more RAM)

Thanks!

[MickMcGeough]

Originally Posted by Sled

Processor :Intel Core™2 Duo Processor E6320 1.86GHz w/ 4MB Cache1

$209.95

$209.95

CPU Heatsink / Fan :Intel Retail Heatsink and Fan1

$0.00

$0.00

Motherboards :Gigabyte GA-945GME-DS2 (rev. 2.0) w/ DualDDR2, Video, 7.1 Audio, Gigabit Lan, PCI-E1

$109.95

$109.95

Memory :Kingston 1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM2

$52.95

$105.90

Case :Antec Sonata II w/ 450W SmartPower 2.01

$119.95

$119.95

Power Supplies :Antec 450W SmartPower 2.0 Power Supply Included with Case1

$0.00

$0.00

Hard Drives 1 :Seagate 320GB Barracuda 7200.10 ATA w/ 16MB Cache1

$99.95

$99.95

Hard Drives 2 :None0

$0.00

$0.00

Optical Drive 1 :LG Super Multi DVD Writer 18x18x10 DVD +/-RW Dual-Layer, Black (OEM)1

$37.95

$37.95

Optical Drive 2 :None0

$0.00

$0.00

Video Cards :Onboard Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 9501

$0.00

$0.00

Monitors :LG Flatron L204WTX 20in Widescreen LCD w/ DVI, 5ms, 2000:1 Contrast, Silver-Black1

$279.95

$279.95

Sound Cards :Onboard 8-Channel 7.1 Audio1

$0.00

$0.00

Ethernet Cards :Onboard 100/1000 Gigabit Lan1

$0.00

$0.00

Operating System :Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition w/ SP2B, OEM1

$109.95

$109.95

Assembly :Please Assemble Hardware + Load my O/S1

$60.00

$60.00

Office Ready PC :Microsoft Office Ready Pre-installed (Limited Time Trial w/ Systems Only) [$0.00]1

$0.00

$0.00

Warranty :Memory Express 2-Year IPR Plan for PC Systems from $751-$10001

$79.95

$79.95

Grand Total: $1309

This machine is not going to be a major gaming one (WoW and Blizzard games). Mostly for digital multimedia and surfing

What do you guys think? Is there anything I over bought or should upgrade?

Regardless of your plans for gaming or not, swap the motherboard for one without onboard video and put the extra money towards a video card instead. An Nvidia Geforce 7600GT (not GS) has outstanding price/performance ratio and there's an eVGA brand one that can be had for about $135 at memory express. I don't even let my parents get machines with onboard video anymore, not when quality video cards can be had for so cheap.

[J pold]

Fixed.

[gallione11]

Oddball kind of question here. I've been playing SC3000 Unlimited lately and it screws with my audio playback after I'm done playing. I believe it enables 3D-sound while playing, and sounds fine during the game. When I exit, however, it's still enabled making everything else sound horrible. When I play music through Winamp, it sounds like it's being played in a large empty hall (echo-ey and static-filled).

Any idea on how to remedy this? I can fix it through rebooting, but that's a pain to do everytime I play. I've looked through the options under the Sound portion on the Control Panel but can't find anything to fix this, nor can I find an option on the Volume Control.

OS is Windows XP, audio is Avance AC97 Audio (standard issue with my laptop).

Any ideas?

[arsenal]

Originally Posted by gallione11

Oddball kind of question here. I've been playing SC3000 Unlimited lately and it screws with my audio playback after I'm done playing. I believe it enables 3D-sound while playing, and sounds fine during the game. When I exit, however, it's still enabled making everything else sound horrible. When I play music through Winamp, it sounds like it's being played in a large empty hall (echo-ey and static-filled).

Any idea on how to remedy this? I can fix it through rebooting, but that's a pain to do everytime I play. I've looked through the options under the Sound portion on the Control Panel but can't find anything to fix this, nor can I find an option on the Volume Control.

OS is Windows XP, audio is Avance AC97 Audio (standard issue with my laptop).

Any ideas?

Sounds like the game isn't releasing the DirectX Audio driver correctly. See if you can change the sound option in the game to not use DirectX or DirectSound during the game and see if that fixes anything.

The only other thing would be to see if there are any updates for either the game or your audio card.

[Cowperson]

Sooooo . . . . . I live in a rural area and have crappy rural dial-up internet, the worst form of access imaginable.

Probably time to upgrade a bit.

My choices are fairly limited as I live behind a hill, out of site of those towers, and Telus tells me they can't put me on an upgraded phone line.

So, it comes down to satellite access, including the costs associated with getting a dish and what not put on the house OR, brainwave, cellular access.

So, my question to the brilliant minds of Calgarypuck is: "Can I use my cellphone number to get better internet access on my home computer in the country."

I rarely use my cell phone anyway.

Comments?

I've heard satellite is okay until the network gets full and then the company has to lower everyone's speed.

Cowperson

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

Sooooo . . . . . I live in a rural area and have crappy rural dial-up internet, the worst form of access imaginable.


Probably time to upgrade a bit.

My choices are fairly limited as I live behind a hill, out of site of those towers, and Telus tells me they can't put me on an upgraded phone line.

So, it comes down to satellite access, including the costs associated with getting a dish and what not put on the house OR, brainwave, cellular access.

So, my question to the brilliant minds of Calgarypuck is: "Can I use my cellphone number to get better internet access on my home computer in the country."

I rarely use my cell phone anyway.

Comments?

I've heard satellite is okay until the network gets full and then the company has to lower everyone's speed.

Cowperson

Not exactly what you're looking for but here's a thread that gives hope for the future.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/show...lular+internet

Here's another thread on satellite internet here.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=47143

[Ayrahb]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

So, my question to the brilliant minds of Calgarypuck is: "Can I use my cellphone number to get better internet access on my home computer in the country."

I rarely use my cell phone anyway.

Comments?

I've heard satellite is okay until the network gets full and then the company has to lower everyone's speed.

Cowperson

Call Telus or Bell Mobility, they should be able to tell you if 1X EV-DO is available in your area.


You should also check out the Alberta SuperNet. I know there is a wireless service for the rural areas, but I don't know who provides it.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by Juventus3

Where's a good place in the city to upgrade a mac? (bigger HD and more RAM)

Thanks!

My Mac Dealer or Westworld.

What computer? They are usually ridiculously easy swap out ram or hard drives.

[Cerebral]

I recently bought an external HD for my computer but I am having a lot of trouble with it. My computer reads it fine at times but it will also often not show up as a valid drive under My Computer or within Disk Management after I reboot my computer.

I'm almost positive it is a problem with my USB ports - my computer is fairly old and it only has USB 1.0 (which shouldn't be a problem with this drive) and even my printer hasn't been recognized after rebooting of late.

One solution I have found that sometimes works is to uninstall all the USB Root Hubs, restart the computer and then let all the Root Hubs automatically reinstall. This sometimes results in my external HD/printer being recognized and sometimes not.

Is this likely just a case of my computer being fried or is there something I can potentially do to fix this? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Ayrahb]

A quick question for the people in IT: what are the most common bandwidth hog sites in your opinion? My first guess would be YouTube, but what about some other ones?

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Ayrahb

A quick question for the people in IT: what are the most common bandwidth hog sites in your opinion? My first guess would be YouTube, but what about some other ones?

Myspace has to be up there.

So bloated.