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Hardware Help & How-To: J to R




Laptop Computers


Accessories: (PCWorld Articles)

Batteries and Chargers
          Fuel Cell Adds Life to Your Mobile Devices: Power supply could keep your handheld gadgets running ten times as long as existing batteries written by Matt Berger, IDG News Service, Friday, August 09, 2002*
           Mobile Computing Tips: No More Dead Batteries: Products to boost battery life: solar panels, fuel cells, rechargers written by James A. Martin, Thursday, July 25, 2002*
           Mobile Gear Gets a Charge on the Run: More power to you: Seidio, IGo unveil kits that recharge notebooks, PDAs, cell phones from various sources written by Tom Spring, PCWorld.com, Thursday, June 27, 2002*
           Casio Adds Life to Mobile Devices: New fuel cell generates power through chemical reaction, keeping notebooks running for 20 hours written by Kuriko Miyake, IDG News Service, Tuesday, March 05, 2002*


AnandTech's Mobile Reviews - Your source for hardware analysis and news.* 04/30/2004


Ars Technica Mobile Systems and PDA Reviews - The PC Enthusiast's Resource.* 04/30/2004


Batteries Plus - Batteries Plus was the first organization to respond to the evolving needs of the replacement battery market. Our first store opened in 1988 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Since then, we have grown to be the largest and most comprehensive retail and business-to-business chain focused on the battery category. Batteries Plus has over 280 stores operating from coast-to-coast.

Batteries Plus is a single source supplier of national and control brands, custom built battery packs, and battery-related products. As "America's Battery Experts", we use breadth of product and technical knowledge in serving your battery needs.
* 02/24/2007


Battery University is an on-line resource that provides practical battery knowledge for engineers, educators, students and battery users alike. The papers address battery chemistries, best battery choices and ways to make your battery last longer.

The presentations are easy-to-read and are limited to about 1000 words. The material is based on the book Batteries in a portable World - A handbook on rechargeable batteries for non-engineers, and is written in condensed form. The 300-page book and a library of battery articles are available on www.buchmann.ca. Battery service products are shown on www.cadex.com.
* 02/28/2006


C|NET's Laptop Buyer's Guide - The CNET editors' guide to notebooks clues you in to what you need to know, from finding the type of notebook that fits your lifestyle to all of the latest trends.* Laptop Reviews, Editors' Top Notebooks, Notebook Accessories, Most Popular Notebooks, and even a Notebook Forum! 04/30/2004


dsmiller.com - dsmiller.com, a leading cyberstore for batteries and accessories! We are committed to providing you with the highest level of customer service and superior products. If you believe that we can improve our service in any way, please visit contact us. Our goal is to make your on-line shopping experience comfortable, convenient and fast (and save you money in the process).* 02/24/2007


Laptop LCD Removal Instructions - We'll help you go from laptop to LCD screen in 8 easy steps!* - Created by ScreenTek, Ltd. They also offer LCD Removal Instructions for an Apple iBook G4, IBM ThinkPad T30 and a Toshiba Satellite.


Laptop Security Guidelines by LabMice.net - Laptops have become thief magnets, attracting everything from common thugs and dishonest housekeeping employees to sophisticated conmen, hi-tech crime rings, and industrial spies. In 1999 alone, over 319,000 laptops were reported stolen. Thousands more were simply misplaced or left in hotel rooms, restaurants, airports, cabs or coffee shops by busy employees rushing around. Protect your capital investment and your company's secrets by following these guidelines to better laptop security. This is a "live" document that is updated periodically as new threats and security countermeasures are discovered.* 08/13/2004


MacWorld - Apple Hardware, Mac Hardware, Product Reviews. Sorry, I don't know anything about Macs and where to look.


PC Magazine Notebook Reviews and Buying Guide.


PC World Notebook Product Guide - How to Buy a Notebook PC, Full-Featured Notebooks, Input Devices, Mac Notebooks, Notebook Accessories, Notebook Tips, Thin-and-Light Notebooks.


VoodooPC.com - There is a long heritage here at VoodooPC that’s filled with pride and tradition. When we started out nearly 15 years ago, we were building powerful PCs by hand, one at a time. We didn’t rest until every last widget was in place. That tradition is probably the only thing that hasn't changed about Voodoo over the years. We've been racing ahead of the pack since the beginning and we've never looked back.* 09/02/2006




Memory


18004MEMORY.COM Memory Wizard - This program will automatically find the exact memory upgrade that is 100% guaranteed to work in your computer system, exactly like the memory that came in your computer when you purchased it.* 04/21/2006


Computer Memory Upgrade Install Guide - A computer memory upgrade is the best value for increasing overall computer performance. And adding computer memory or upgrading computer memory is also one of the easiest computer upgrades. Details on how to install computer RAM DIMM modules and on installing computer RAM SIMM modules are provided so you can add or upgrade your own computer memory.

When you're ready to purchase the memory, I strongly recommend Crucial memory as the best value in terms of quality and price. It's what I use in My Super PC and all of my own computers.
* 08/17/2006


Corsair Memory, Inc.Corsair has many years of experience in qualifying high-performance memories, and has developed a knowledge base and track record which is among the best in the industry. Corsair also has strict standards for product qualification; any changes in design, bill-of-materials, and/or supplier, must be re-qualified prior to shipment to end customers. These high standards, while somewhat time consuming, have resulted in a very robust product, with extremely few failures, returns, or compatibility problems.* According to the Q&A With Andy Paul article in the June 2003 edition of CPU Magazine (Computer Power User), "Analysts widely consider Corsair to be the leading manufacturer of high-quality, high-performance memory and of overclocking memory technology for the enthusiast market."* 07/12/2003


Crucial Technology - A division of Micron Technology, Inc. - Crucial System Scanner Tool - Scan your computer to find out what is already inside your system and get recommended upgrades. Crucial Memory Advisor™ Tool - A quick, 3-step process to find guaranteed-compatible memory for computers and motherboards.* Also check out their Installing a DIMM in your desktop tutorial with pics. Updated: 09/18/2007


Data Memory Systems Inc. - Find memory for the new Intel Macs and all other Mac models here. Hi-Capacity® Battery Configurator™ - Replacement batteries, chargers and adapters for notebooks, laptops, digital cameras, PDAs, cell phones and other battery powered devices.* 04/21/2006


Kingston Technology's Memory Search - Select your Computer, Motherboard, Digital Camera, PDA, Printer or other device manufacturer from the list - Memory Configurator - With Kingston memory you get premium components, 100% testing, a lifetime warranty and 24x7 free technical support included in every module we make. - The Ultimate Memory Guide - Kingston has written the definitive document related to memory and the technology behind it. Everything you ever wanted to know about memory can be found here. Memory Assessor - How much memory do you really need?* 05/14/2003


Micron Technology, Inc. is one of the world's leading providers of advanced semiconductor solutions. Micron’s DRAM and Flash components are used in today’s most advanced computing, networking, and communications products, including computers, workstations, servers, cell phones, wireless devices, digital cameras, and gaming systems. Micron also provides CMOS image sensor solutions to the handset camera, digital still camera, and PC video camera markets.* - Find quality memory for your specific Motherboard! 05/14/2003


Memtest86 is thorough, stand alone memory test for x86 architecture computers. BIOS based memory tests are only a quick check and often miss many of the failures that are detected by Memtest86.* 05/14/2003


Mushkin Enhanced Memory Systems excellent prices, Lifetime Warranty on memory products, and a smart sales staff. DDR SDRAM, USB Flash drives, Rambus, Basic Value, SDRAM, PC Memory, Graphite for Macs, Mac Memory, Laptop Memory, Flash Memory, Fun Stuff, Close Out!.* 05/14/2003


Simmtester.com (CST Inc.) provides the ideal memory solution for a wide range of needs - from Memory FAQ to Memory Testers and Diagnostic Software. CST will bring to you what's happening in the industry with the latest News and Articles.* Their DocMemory, memory diagnostic software, is recommended by some of the previously listed memory manufacturers. 07/30/2003


Windows Memory Diagnostic - The Windows Memory Diagnostic tests the Random Access Memory (RAM) on your computer for errors. The diagnostic includes a comprehensive set of memory tests. If you are experiencing problems while running Windows, you can use the diagnostic to determine whether the problems are caused by failing hardware, such as RAM or the memory system of your motherboard. Windows Memory Diagnostic is designed to be easy and fast. On most configurations, you can download the diagnostic, read the documentation, run the test and complete the first test pass in less than 30 minutes.* 12/13/2005




Modems


If you're having connection issues with your Dial-Up service, make sure you only have one device plugged into that particular phone jack and use a Well Made 7' Phone Cord (15ft & 25ft), not a $2 cheapie...If you're gonna use a cheapie, the shorter the cord, the better.
(These are not affilliate links...I'm just using them as examples.)


56k.com - It has been many years since 56K.COM was updated and maintained on a regular basis. This one time award-winnig site is now time worn. It is our intention to rebuild the content and develop a new direction, which will be of value for the modem designers and manufacturers. The scope will go beyond 56K modems and include xDSL, cable, and wireless modems.* Regardless, it has some valuable information that still works today: Identify Your Modem, Init Strings and Drivers, Manufacturer's Links, Trouble Shooting Guide, and more. 08/06/2003


DSLReports.com - DSLreports.com provides information and help on the subject of residential and small business Broadband connections. Although we are called DSLreports.com, we are actually spelled BROADBANDreports.com...* What do you want to know about Broadband? Check here first!


Modem Doctor Diagnostics - There has always been a need for users with little or no expertise to troubleshoot or install modems. Now days, that has expanded to include network devices as well. Although many people enjoy the benefits of full-time on-line high-speed network links, the vast majority still access Corporate sites and Internet ISP’s via dial-up modems. Modem Doctor and its resources are dedicated to helping you find the info you need and fix whatever problems you might encounter. ModemDoctor is not a huge company with vast resources, but more a labor-of-love. Our goal is to make your communications experience less stressful and more informative. Modem Doctor and Modem Doctor for Windows are designed to help novice and advanced users with over 60 tests of your serial port, interrupt controller, cables, and your modem.* They have several versions of their Modem Doctor program for DOS, Win 3.1(x), Win 95, Win 98, Win ME, Win NT4, Win 2k, and Win XP. 03/08/2004


ModemHelp.org - Modem Init Strings, Manufacturer Support Sites, Modem Resource Sites, High-Speed Internet, Modem Drivers, Remote Access Server Sites, and more, lots more!


Navas Cable Modem-DSL Tuning Guide - Tweaks and Help with Broadband Modems.


Navas 28800-56K Modem FAQ - Tweaks and Help with 28K to 56K Modems.


SpeedGuide.net - Your Guide to Broadband "Some of the best Broadband tweaks and Speed patches on the Net" The site focuses on system performance, with areas including Broadband Internet connections, Windows, Overclocking, all targeted towards a technically aware audience. A large section of SpeedGuide.net is dedicated to Cable Modems and DSL technology, stressing on improving TCP/IP performance over high speed/latency networks.*




Monitors - CRT's & LCDs


Check out KenAtPcs' excellent How Do I Choose the Proper LCD Monitor? article.


LCD Screens Dead Pixels - Some manufacturer specifications such as response time, contrast ratio, viewing angles, and refreshing rate are easily found. Others, however, such as dead pixels are more difficult. In fact, this is a very sensitive subject for flat screen manufacturers as warranty policies vary considerably!

If you plan to purchase a screen in the near future, consider first taking a look at the exchange policies followed by each manufacturer. If you have already bought a LCD screen and are satisfied, or you need to use your warranty, here are the rules followed by manufacturers.
* 02/05/2007


Notes on the Troubleshooting and Repair of Computer and Video Monitors - Copyright © 1994-2006 Samuel M. Goldwasser --- All Rights Reserved ---

For contact info, please see the Sci.Electronics.Repair FAQ Email Links Page.

Reproduction of this document in whole or in part is permitted if both of the following conditions are satisfied:
This notice is included in its entirety at the beginning.
There is no charge except to cover the costs of copying.
* 08/19/2006




Motherboards


AnandTech's Motherboard Price Guide for February/March 2006. 03/01/2006


Motherboard Monitor - Motherboard Monitor (MBM) is a tool that will display information from the sensor chip on your motherboard in your Windows system tray. MBM supports a wide range of Chipsets & Sensor Chip combinations. MBM is compatible with Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP and .NET.

It can sense temps from Cpu, HDD, GFx and Mobo. It does also sense Fan speeds. If it senses that your hardware is overheated it can protect it by Shutting it down (user configured). To see if MBM5 supports your hardware check out the Motherboard List

It does also record all temps and fans for later viewing. This is a great implention if you want to overclock. Example to see how well cooled your computer runs over a time. Full load or idle time. Its recomended for all home built systems. Specially if you make your own HEAT SINKS or just test you newly OVERCLOCKED CPU or GFx Card.

 :: Credits - Motherboard Monitor is created by Alexander van Kaam and MBM Logo by Claes Mellangård / 3D-Energizers. WebSite GFx +Logo and Design by Claes Mellangård / 3D-Energizers.
* This is a MUST SEE program if you want/need to know more information about heating issues in your PC case! 06/13/2003


Motherboards.org - The Most Comprehensive Motherboard Site on the Web. MoboCop - Who Made Your Motherboard? - Need a BIOS Upgrade, manual, or driver but cannot ID your motherboard?


Motherboard Manuals, Data and More - Slightly dated...most are 486 and Pentium...nothing newer that I could see. 03/08/2004


SysOpt.com has List of MB Manufacturers. 05/18/2003




Power Supplies


FrozenCPU Virtual-Hideout.net Special Edition ATX 2.0 Power Supply Tester - Virtual-Hideout.net was so pleased with this power supply that they gave it a 10 out 10. Now we are pleased to introduce the Virtual-Hideout.net Special Edition of our favorite PC Power Supply Tester. With an all new brushed metal themed packaging and a new logo on the power supply tester as well, it is a beautified version of the best computer power supply tester on the market! We are all proud to have this tester bear our names.* 09/02/2006


JOURNEYSYSTEMS Power Supply Calculator - Our New & Improved Power Supply Calculator is here! I want to thank all of you who have emailed with your input over the past year. The Wattages listed below are maximum peak wattage for each component. The total amount this calculator figures is for all devices running at peak utilization. It is important to bear in mind that this amount will never be reached under typical operation. However, I feel that this tool will give you a better idea of how much power your system will need. After all when it comes to power, having excess wattage on a power supply is never a bad thing!

Also, one other important factor is the amperage of the +12V rail. A good power supply will have a beefy +12V rail (18A or higher), or even dual +12V rails, as Antec does with their TruePower series. Also, beware that there are many 'imposter' power supplies on the market right now. I have seen power supplies labeled as 500 watt, when they are actually only 250 watts. There are three ways to tell if a power supply is labeled correctly, 1) Check the amperage on the +12V rail, 2) Check the price. If it claims to be 500 watts, but only costs $30, that should throw up all kinds of red flags to you. A true 500 watt power supply will cost between $90 and $140, and 3) Buy a brand name power supply. There are many knock-off supplies out there. Do a little research on the brand. Most 'imitation' power supply companies have no website or a very poorly done website.

These are peak wattages. Even under full load, actual consumption is usually less than these figures.
* 02/28/2006




Printers


All You Need to Know About Inkjet Printers - Printers are an important part of any office equipment. A printer accepts text and graphic output from a computer and transfers the information to paper. You may buy a printer with your computer, or separately. There are different printers for different purposes, the expensive ones being used for high-resolution and colour printouts. Inkjet Printers (are) a type of printer that works by spraying ionised ink at a sheet of paper. Magnetised plates in the ink's path direct the ink onto the paper in the desired shapes. Ink-jet printers are capable of producing high quality print approaching that produced by laser printers. A typical ink-jet printer provides a resolution of 300 dots per inch, although some newer models offer higher resolution In general, the price of ink-jet printers is lower than that of laser printers. However, they are also considerably slower. Another drawback of ink-jet printers is that they require a special type of ink that is apt to smudge on inexpensive copier paper. Because ink-jet printers require smaller mechanical parts than laser printers, they are especially popular, as portable printers. In addition, colour ink-jet printers provide an inexpensive way to print full-colour documents.* 05/14/2003

FixYourOwnPrinter.com - The Definitive Printer Repair Resource - A lot of the problems that occur in laser printers are common and tend to appear frequently for all users. They can usually be attributed to design flaws or faulty equipment on the behalf of the manufacturer, and as such, are easy to diagnose and repair. To help people and companies solve these problems, fixyourownprinter.com provides repair parts and instructional videos in a collection of do-it-yourself printer repair kits. Designed with the average user in mind, these kits cost a fraction of the typical repair bill (in most incidents they're cheaper than an estimate), and eliminate the waiting period and unreliability of some computer stores. They're also a great tool for training new techs, or if you're interested in learning how to fix laser printers yourself.* 09/22/2003


How To Clear A Stubborn Inkjet Printer Clog - Do you own an inkjet printer? Has the printhead ever clogged up on you, creating streaks or missing colors from your printing?

Clogs can be incredibly frustrating. Normally when you find out you have a clogged printhead, it’s because you’re right in the middle of printing something important. It’s one of those problems that you never ask for. It just seems to throw itself in your lap without warning, and then taunts you in your efforts to fix it.
* Read The Whole Article... 04/29/2006


HP Instant Support - Driver Check - This tool checks printer and computer setup. No private or personal data is accessed. Data is used for printer driver diagnostics and reported anonymously for internal statistics. This tool supports networked and directly connected USB and parallel HP printers. Click to see the list of covered printers.* You MUST Allow Pop-Ups from this page for this Tool to Work! 01/24/2007




Routers


Broadband Router Guide for the home and small office - The basic idea behind a broadband router is to allow two or more computers to share In internet connection using a technology called NAT - network address translation .  With only a single IP address on the Internet, all of the computers in your home can be on the Internet at the same time. Additionally, NAT naturally acts as a rudimentary router firewall by masking the true IP address of our computer - thus helping to keep your systems safe from hackers.

Broadband routers can be as easy or as complex as you want them to be. Available for less than $75 now, a basic model can extend your Internet to all the computers in your home. If all you do is surf and write e-mail, a simple broadband router is both easy to install and ZERO maintenance. For the more adventurous, manufacturers have added a myriad of options and features that can delight, confuse and confound us.
* 03/23/2006


c|net.com's Networking and Wi-Fi Routers reviews.


FreeAntennas.com - Deep Dish Cylindrical Parabolic Template - A TMF Friend of mine, Doc, says, "I built two of these so far with unbelievable success. The first one took about ten minutes and I used cardboard from ironed shirts (cleaners), aluminum foil, glue stick and a hot glue gun. This one went on the router antenna and boosted signal strength impressively for the time and effort I spent. The next one I used a plastic coffee can cut in half (parabola), lined it with foil and set it on the antenna of my daughters computer upstairs when she had a weak signal. Again, impressive gain in signal and happy daughter."* 09/12/2006


Home Wireless Network - How to setup a home wireless network* 04/10/2006


Networking Hardware Manufacturer Web Sites - These are some of the more popular/well known companies: 3Com, Asanté, Belkin, D-Link, Intel, Linksys, NETGEAR, SMC. Updated 03/23/2006


Personal Computer World's Buyers' Guide: Routers - Whether you want a wired router or a wireless version with VoIP functionality, we show you what to look for.* 03/23/2006


PracticallyNetworked's Latest Reviews of Routers - PracticallyNetworked has provided practical, easy-to-understand help for small network builders since early 1998. The site contains the most complete "How-To" information for setting up Internet sharing found anywhere! We walk readers through the whole process from setting up and debugging their network, through selecting a sharing method, to securing their newly shared LAN. Users can also find extensive troubleshooting information, tips on getting special applications to work through firewalls, and product reviews on Hardware Routers, Wireless and HomePNA LAN products, and more!* 03/23/2006


Router Guide - Sitemap - Your Independent Guide to Routers* - Nice articles on this site, but the Homepage is cluttered at the top of the page with too many ads. I realize people need to find assistance with the financial costs of operating a web site, but the ads could be "placed" better, IMHO. 04/10/2006


SearchNetworking.com's Crash Course: Routers - Need a quick knowledge fix on routers? Here we present technical tips and advice on router basics, so you can get your hardware up and configured in no time.* 03/23/2006


WhatIs.com's - What is a Router? 12/02/2002




*These sites and/or persons have been quoted directly as I believe what they say about their sites or they already know what to say, better than I do.
These names and logos belong to and are copyrighted or trademarked by the site owners.



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