Notes on the Compaq Presario SR2011WM
I’ve been working on a Presario SR2011WM. It’s a basic, low-end, single-core Celeron D system from 2006 or so. It can take up to 2 GB of RAM, runs Windows XP adequately, and has SATA ports, so you can...
View ArticleHow to slipstream updates into Windows 8.1
I need a Windows box, so I figured I’d experiment with Windows 8.1. I know it’s terrible, but I want to see just how much less terrible I can make it. The first thing I wanted to do was figure out how...
View ArticleUSB malware: What you need to know
Tomorrow morning on Fox 2: How this USB drive could be worse than the worst malware you’ve ever imagined! Yes, when a security vulnerability hits TV news, it’s a big deal. It’s probably also...
View ArticleUpgrading an HP Mini 110 to Linux Mint 17
Over the Labor Day weekend I decided to upgrade my HP Mini 110 netbook to Linux Mint 17. The Mini 110 can handle Windows 7, but Linux Mint doesn’t cost any money and I figure a Linux box is more useful...
View ArticleKeeping your NAS off Google
I read in a couple of places the last few days about search engines picking up data stored on poorly configured consumer routers acting as a NAS. This isn’t a case of being evil; rather it’s a case of...
View ArticleCD won’t rip? Try a different drive.
A few weeks ago I uncovered a stash of CDs from my college and early bachelor days that, for one reason or another, I’d never ripped to MP3 format. When I started ripping the discs, I got one clue as...
View ArticleHaving trouble installing Windows 7 from USB? Disable USB 3.0.
So I went to install Windows 7 on an Asrock Q1900M motherboard, and I had the most difficult time I’ve had in years. Creating a bootable USB stick from my Win7 DVD went flawlessly, and the Asrock...
View ArticleA DVR without a subscription or monthly fees
What if I told you that you could have a DVR without a subscription that worked with free over-the-air antenna-based TV, and it cost less than $35, saving those monthly subscription fees month after...
View ArticleBoot a Lenovo Ideapad 100 from USB
If you need to boot a Lenovo Ideapad 100 from USB, there’s an easy way to do it. First, shut down the computer. Plug a USB drive into one of the USB ports. Next, press the Novo Button. On my friend’s...
View ArticleBoot a Lenovo Thinkcentre off USB
It’s easier to boot a Lenovo Thinkcentre off USB than some other types of computers. But if you’ve never had to, it might be hard to figure out. Here’s how. First, insert your USB drive. The front...
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