What to Do If Your Computer Does Not Start

1. No Access to the Keyboard During the Boot Process?

Help, I can't access my keyboard at boot!

If this is the case, I would recommend:

1-1. If using a USB keyboard, plug the keyboard into the primary USB ports on the back of the computer (on the motherboard). Restart the computer and try again.

1-2. Try another known working USB keyboard plugged into the primary USB ports on the back of the computer (on motherboard). Restart the computer and try again.

1-3. Try another known working PS/2 keyboard, restart the computer and try again.

1-4. If using a PS/2 Keyboard, try replacing your keyboard with a USB keyboard, restart the computer and try again.

1-5. If these steps fail, remove your keyboard connection and shut the computer off with the power button. While computer is off, plug the keyboard back into the computer and start the computer.

Still doesn't work? Please go to "I need to flash my bios" section and proceed with flashing your bios.

2. Does Your Computer Freeze at Bios?

Why is my computer frozen?!

2-1. Remove all devices from your computer including removable hard drives, additional USB devices, and printers and faxes. Restart the computer and try again. If no result, go to step 2-2.

2-2. If you can see your bios screen, please tap the key to go into your bios settings. While inside of bios, make sure that your hard drive, memory and video card ( is applicable) are detected. If it is not, try re-seating or replacing the unit that is not being detected. If no result, go to step 2-3.

2-3. While looking in bios and all of your hardware is getting detected okay, please reset the bios back to its default settings and choose "save and quit." The computer will restart and you should be looking at the operating system loading page at this point. If no result, go to step 2-4.

2-4. Open the computer, remove all but 1 memory module (usually closest to the CPU) and disconnect all hard drives. Also disconnect and PCI or AGP add on cards and start your computer. If you see "operating system not found" or a similar message, progress has been made. Then start adding back 1 item at a time, restarting the computer after each item to see when it fails.

If these steps still won't work, please proceed to the "I need to flash my bios" section.

3. Computer Beeping Noises on Power Up

No data on screen and computer yelling at you?

3-1. If your computer is beeping at start up and you are not seeing anything on your screen. There is a hardware problem with your computer. Please check your motherboard or computer manufacturers website for bios code meanings. If this is not possible, first thing to try is remove all sticks of memory except for one, restart your computer and try again. If no result, please go to step 3-2.

3-2. If removed and tested all memory, please disconnect all internal connections EXCEPT for Power supply connections, Video card connections and the Power switch (PSW). Also leaving 1 stick of memory, heatsinks and fans plugged in as well, restart the computer and try again. If no result, please go to step 3-3.

3-3. If you have a video card installed and have on-board video as well, please remove the video card and the power connection to that card. Hook the video cable to your on board video connection. Restart your computer and try again. If no result, go to step 3-4.

3-4. If the beeping still exists, Try replacing the memory with a known working module. Restart the computer and try again, if no result, please replace the motherboard and try again. If still no result, go to step 3-5.

3-5. If beeping still exists, replace the processor and add only the necessary connections ( Power supply connections, Video card connections and the Power switch (PSW). Also leaving 1 stick of memory, heatsinks and fans plugged in as well ). Start the computer and try again.

Note: If all steps do not work, please review the steps one more time, if the computer is still beeping at start up, please contact a local computer repair technician.

4. Windows Was Unable to Start?

unmountable volume, windows did not start successfully?

4-1. First you should try "start Windows normally." If this does not bring you back into Windows, move to step 4-2.

4-2. Choose the "Use last known good configuration", you should be able to boot back into Windows at this point, if not proceed to step 4-3.

4-3. Choose "Repair" as an option and let the computer go through it's motions, your computer may restart a couple of times in the process. You should now be able to get back in to Windows, if not please proceed to step 4-4.

4-4. You will need to boot from a Windows installation DVD or boot-able USB with the installation files on it. Make sure to press the adequate key at bios to view / change boot options. Boot the DVD / USB, choose repair and then choose your Windows installation directory. If prompted with a command prompt, type "chkdsk /r" and then press enter. If no result, move to step 4-5.

4-5. If another computer is available, please remove the hard drive from the affected computer, insert the hard drive into the working computer as a slave ( making the proper jumper configuration change on the primary and slave drive). Then boot into Windows using your known working hard drive, then try and recover as much personal data as possible and store it on the known working hard drive. If another computer is unavailable or this does not work for you, please proceed to step 4-6.

4-6. Attach a removable storage medium ( removable hard drive ) Boot to a recovery software utility or Live CD using your DVD drive or USB drive. A few of these utilities are Hiren's Boot CD, Ultimate Boot CD, Knoppix and Ubuntu. Access your hard drive from this utility and back up all of your personal files and information. Then safely remove your removable hard drive, restart your computer and hit F11 or ctrl + F11 repeatedly if you have a factory installed windows recovery partition. Or if you have a DVD Windows installation disc insert this disc at start up. Choose the "install" option and install over your old broken Windows installation.

Note: If the above will not work, please contact a local computer repair technician.

5. I Need to Flash My Bios!

Bios corrupted, acting strange?

5-1. Obtain your bios compatible files. Most of the time, you can get these files from the manufacturer's website. Just search for the files on their website using your model # of you computer or service tag.

5-2. Create a boot-able floppy drive with your bios files. Then manually copy the bios files onto the floppy drive, eject the floppy drive and insert it into the troubled computer and start the computer up. Press the specific key to access your boot menu when the computer is starting up, choose your floppy drive. If everything goes to plan, you should see a command prompt. Follow your manufacturers instructions on how to flash the bios. If you do not have a floppy drive, proceed to 5-3.

5-3. Create a boot-able USB with your bios files on it. One utility to get this job done would be HP's USB Storage Format Tool. Then manually copy the bios files onto the USB drive, eject the USB drive and insert it into the troubled computer and start the computer up. Press the specific key to access your boot menu when the computer is starting up, choose your USB drive. If everything goes to plan, you should see a command prompt. Follow your manufacturers instructions on how to flash the bios. If you do not have a USB drive, proceed to 5-4.

5-4. Create a boot-able DVD with your bios files on it. When making your iso, copy the bios files into the ISO before compiling. Burn the DVD, eject the DVD and insert it into the troubled computer and start the computer up. Press the specific key to access your boot menu when the computer is starting up. Choose your DVD drive. If everything goes to plan, you should see a command prompt. Follow your manufacturers instructions on how to flash the bios.

Note: If you are not able to flash your bios, you may need to contact a local computer repair technician.

Owner @ Dave's Computer & Console Supporting self computer repair and lending a helping hand along the way.

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Compare Mobile Phones Based on Five Factors

No matter its value-added features, a mobile phone rises in prominence from among a crowd of wannabes and similarly designed products because of five fundamental factors that affect a buyer's decision. These factors include the phone's standard and value-added features, the price tag, the mobile plan attached to it, the phone's flexibility and expandability, and the phone's hardware.

Standard and Value-Added Features of a Mobile Phone

Naturally, the discriminating buyer would want a mobile phone with all the standard features. These basic features include a body that fits an average person's hand, a clear display screen, an alphanumeric keypad (touchscreen or real), good quality audio for music and voice calls, a powerful antenna (internal or external), and a durable casing that can withstand most shallow drops and fine rain. Honestly, the touchscreen with a high-resolution display isn't as equally essential as the phone's capacity to store data. Also, Wi-Fi connectivity may be important now because of the expensive data rates for mobile broadband, but the Bluetooth feature should be gone by now.

The Price Tag Makes a World of Difference

We often use our phones for calling, texting, web surfing, listening to music, taking pictures, or playing games. When a phone has more value-added features, such as GPS for automatic geo-updates to Foursquare or a capability to playback DivX movies in HD, expect the price tag to shoot through the roof. These features are great! We have fun exploring different apps and we enjoy interacting with the software. But, these do not contribute to the essence of a mobile phone, which is a communication device for making voice calls rather than surfing the web or playing games.

Beware of Plastic Parts Inside a Mobile Phone

If you have the money to spend, then you're lucky to have the means to get the kind of phone you truly wanted. However, when you're coping with a restricted budget, turn your attention towards the lower end of the market where many phones also have the same features you're looking for, but you know their internal hardware may not last a year or even less. The best choice for an inexpensive phone is from middle-level brands that offer durability and full functionality, but at a price that's lower than branded units.

The Mobile Services in a Phone Plan Must Bring Value to You

Many buyers choose a phone brand because of its design and popularity, and the high-quality features of the phone are just icing on the cake for these phone users. However, for the individual with a deeper appreciation of the level of technology we're enjoying today, a mobile phone isn't just a device, but an essential part of his or her workday and lifestyle. This is where the kind of mobile services you have in your plan bring more value to you as a mobile phone user. After all, a phone without Wi-Fi connectivity becomes a useful device for connecting to the web when its mobile plan also has data services.

Flexibility of Design and Expandability of Phone Features

Some brands of mobile phones restrict their users' ability to tweak their unit's internal system and turn it into a more powerful version of its former self. Proprietary operating systems for mobile devices, such as Apple's iOS, Blackberry's RIM, and Microsoft's Windows Mobile, run smoothly as they are with a less complicated user interface that's perfect for non-techies. However, for geeky phone users with a love for Linux or Unix-based systems, an Android phone always presents a world of exploration. They can spend hours rooting, flashing, hacking, and tweaking their phones or tablets until they're satisfied with the way the device performs and the additional functions they've installed within.

Another area where phone buyers may be looking at is the opportunity to expand a phone's data storage through a microSD slot and increase its usability via a Micro USB port and connector. A microSD disc is a small square chip that's inserted into the slot and functions as a portable drive. With this chip, a phone's storage capacity can be boosted up to 3 GB or more. Meanwhile, a Micro USB port is where you insert a short cable with its corresponding micro plug at one end and insert a normal-sized USB plug at the other end to a USB 2.0 port on a laptop or desktop computer. Through this connection called tethering, you can convert your smartphone into a wireless router.

Making a choice when you compare mobile phones depends on which factors you hold with greater importance than the others. If you put price above all else, then you'll likely select a less expensive phone rather than splurge on the latest model from a popular phone brand. When you already know what you want in your mobile phone, check here to compare mobile phones from leading mobile service providers and phone retailers in Australia.

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VHS to DVD Lab - How to Prevent Loss, Damage, MixUps

Handing over your precious home videos for transfer to DVD can be worrisome. What if it gets damaged or lost? Before yo hand over your memories media to a video transfer lab, visit the lab, ask or just observe for these 10 points:

1. Is the video transfer work done on-site? This is what a good video transfer lab would say:

All of our work is done at the same location where you left your old Super 8 film or VHS Tape. It never leaves the building until you pick them up

2. Is every item ID'd and tagged? Here's what a good lab would say:

Ever item and project is given its own job and item number. So even if your 8mm looks like every other 8mm, you can still be sure that you are returned the one that's yours.

3. Is your workplace organized? Don't ask, just observe.

Look around you, is every job in its own bin on a shelf designated for whatever type of media it may be? Or are tapes and film, photos and slides lying in stacks that are tipping over. Are order forms neat and organized or hand-written scribbles?

4. Is every job tracked with a barcode? Give bonus points

If you see barcode tracking, this helps us to make sure your tapes are constantly tracked. If for some reason your VHS to DVD fall in the cracks, a barcoding system will alert the lab.

5. Is every item counted and recounted? A good lab is obsessive-compulsive about counting.

Of course you want to get back all of your tapes or photos. You also don't want to get anyone else's. If you give them 8 tapes, you want 8 tapes back, not 7, not 9. A good lab counts whe you bring them in and recount them when the project enters the transfer lab, and again when the project is done and the media is handed back to you.

6. Do you see any open beverages? You won't in a professional vhs to dvd transfer lab.

No matter what the beverage is, even if it's just water, it must be capped at all times. Liquid damage to your media is not an option.

7. Do you see any open trash bins?

You may be wonder what opent rash bins has to do with safety. Because it's so easy for your precious media to fall into one, that's why.

8. Are they gentle with your fragile media?

Or are they rough? For example, do they put extra protection for fragile photos, SD cards, hard drives and loose slides?

9. Are completed jobs labeled clearly?

Often, right from the front desk, you can see the lab's completed jobs in brown or white bags. Are these bags labelled clearly so there's no mix-ups when a customer picks up her VHS and DVDs?

10. Do they confirm ownership?

Lastly, when you pick up your tapes or photos, do they take the contents of the bags out and ask you to visually verify ownership. This is serious, what if you walk away with someone else's VHS/VCR tapes by mistakes. You don't want their memories, and they don't want your memories.

Your precious home movie tapes are irreplaceable, asking these questions and observing for the above safety procedures is well worth it!

First time transferring VHS tapes to DVD? You can find tape-transfer how-to videos at http://www.playitagainvideo.tv/.

Maurice Sheinfeld has been transferring VHS tapes to DVD at a video transfer lab in Newton, MA since 1986.

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All You Should Know Regarding IP Whois

Nowadays, it is possible to find a wide variety of online tools. The huge advent of innovative solutions and cutting-edge technologies are making possible everything, even those things that seemed inconceivable. Individuals can use tools that are safe and convenient in every way. How about looking onto one of the most popular tools for businesses, service providers and online users? This is when IP Whois comes to play a relevant role in the online world. This will allow users to get data about a specific IP address. Keep reading and discover why you should look onto this option.
Who can gain advantages from this tool?

In case you didn't know, this is not really and alternative but pretty much a necessity. Anyone can benefit from this in a variety of ways. Thereby, it is more than a tool for mere fun or leisure. Both, website owners, website researchers, developers and domain name buyers can get advantages from IP Whois solutions. Even SEO (search engine optimization) experts and internet marketing specialists can benefit from this tool.

What benefits can you get?

A IP Whois address will immediately enable users to reach additional information of a specific IP address. Thereby, this is a comprehensive tool in every sense. Not to mention, you will get accurate data for certain. Get ready to get the following details:
- Sever name.
- Contact details.
- Server location, such as country, city and zip code.
- Traffic statistics.

All in all, this will provide you with the address owner's data. Results display the number of IP addresses that are in the same block. Make sure you get rid of doubts to get maximum benefits out of this tool.

Many individuals are still debating about specific matters. If you are wondering whether this is worth it or not, you might want to prove it on our own. While some people think an IP Whois is unnecessary, it can significantly change your business productivity. For instance, it will allow you to spot traffic details. If you wish to determine the best marketing path, this will help you identify and analyze your niche. You must get to know where your traffic is coming from. Hence, you will then follow the most appropriate online marketing campaign.

If you need to provide content translation, you might as well do it according to the language used by potential clients. Target customers are your top priority. Keep this in mind and walk towards online abundance. Last but not least, IP Whois will allow you to identify existing scammers. Thus, you will be able to stay away from unscrupulous individuals. Prevent online hacking and scams.

Find more information about What is my IP

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Tips to Sync Facebook Contact Information on Your Apple Device

According to Apple its 100 million+ users are now running their devices on iOS 6 which is the latest OS version available. The latest introduction of features provided by iOS 6 is Facebook integration allows the user to easily post updates, upload photos and videos from their iPhone. The other advantage of Facebook integration is that it has a huge amount of contact information that you can sync on your iPhone including addresses, contact details and e-mail ids.

Let us find out how to sync contacts in Facebook to iPhone powered with iOS 6. Additionally, if you are still running your device on iOS 5, these tips would be equally helpful in the process of syncing.

Steps to link your Facebook account contacts to your iPhone iOS 6

When you are running your iOS 6 based device, it becomes relatively easier to link your Facebook account. Apply the following steps for syncing:

• Tap on Settings option and then scroll down to Facebook
• Tap Facebook and login with your username and password
• Tap the button of Sign In, the process of syncing your Facebook contacts will begin. Soon your contacts will be displayed in iDevice, this will additionally include your Calendar information.

The Settings button will enable you to create settings for receiving or disabling alerts related to messages and chats. If you want to change the settings for other notifications, then you will require accessing the Facebook app.

Steps to link Facebook with your iOS 5 iPhone

If you are still running on iOS 5 and have yet to upgrade to the latest iOS 6 version, then you need not worry. You can still sync the contacts of your Facebook account on your iPad, iPod touch or iPhone.

The Facebook integration is only possible with iOS 6, the iOS 5 is devoid of it. However, you can utilize an app to integrate your social media account on your device. Download the Sync.ME app which is available for free on the Apple App Store for your Facebook. This app enables in importing your contacts from Facebook including other information like status, birthday, addresses and more.

Steps to remove Facebook contacts from your device

Even after creating a Facebook profile, some people might not update it for a long time. If you have recently changed your phone number then the information in your account would be obsolete. Additionally, you will not have the most popular e-mail clients like Gmail or Yahoo as a default client which is also quite annoying. Nonetheless, if you have not hit the update button for information update then you will be easily able to remove your old Facebook information from your device.

Apply the following steps for removing old information:

• You were only subscribed to the information in your Facebook contacts so first you need to disable it. Tap the Settings app and scroll down to locate Facebook and tap it.
• Go to the option: 'Allow These Apps To Use Your Account'. This section will reveal your contact list, slide to turn it off.

As the process of removing the old information starts off, it might take some time. As soon as the process is complete you can again feed it with the latest information on your iPad or iPhone.

She is a Technology writer who is keen on any new emerging technology updates. She is working with Qresolve as a Technical Support Engineer. Semeli Karen McPherson has been offering online tech support to global customers for issues related to laptops, desktops, Mac and devices including iPods, tablets, iPhones, computer support and more. She caters to the segment of core technology and provides viable solutions to any issues related to technology and software. Her expertise and skills in handling key technology issues is immaculate and quick result bearing. Through her articles and postings she aims to provide knowledge and solutions to common technology issues that a user faces.

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