Most people become so attached to their laptops that they don’t want to get rid of it even when signs of old age start appearing. It is perfectly understandable why this happens. If you have had your laptop for years now, I’m sure parting with it is not a very easy thing to do. Well, the good news is – you won’t really have to. There are ways that you can do to save your beloved old laptop and improve its performance.

The cost of buying a new laptop can be too much for some people. During these trying times, not everyone can afford to just add a new expense to their already long list of expenses. Working to salvage your old laptop seems to be a more practical idea. One of the typical things that happen to old laptops is that it slows down after a few years. Adding new programs, applications, music files and videos over the years will take up a lot of space in its memory, causing it to slow down. An obvious resolution would be to clear up all the junk files you have accumulated. Go through all the clutter of files that you have and remove anything you don’t use anymore and don’t find important.

If you don’t want to totally delete them, you can just transfer these files to a USB flash drive or an external hard disc drive. Both of these are great external tools for data storage. So what is more appropriate for you? It basically depends on how much memory or storage space you need. A flash drive is more handy and will be able to store about 1GB – 8GB of your files. An external hard drive, however, is capable of storing much more from 300 GB to even Terabytes for the more high-end models. It can basically store your whole lifetime of memories in a little box.

Once you have removed all the unnecessary junk files in your laptop, it would also be advisable to do a little clean up of the registry. You don’t have to manually do the cleaning yourself as that can be such a taxing job. There are a lot of automated softwares you can download online, most of which are free, and can do the job for you in just a few clicks of the mouse. Aside from the cleaning up the registry, which is the centralized database of Windows systems, some software can also automatically detect and fix small errors. Cleaning up the registry will not just speed up the performance of your computer, it can also prevent it from getting malwares or viruses.

These steps will have your old laptop running like a brand new one again. Think of the money you can save by salvaging your old laptop and doing a little cleaning on your own. This can also be the perfect time for you to do a little organizing of your computer files.  After you have done this, regular maintenance is important to keep the laptop running smoothly.

Laptops are very handy but they can be harder to fix than desktop computers. The cost of laptop repair is also skyrocketing every single day. This handy technology is generally more sensitive than typical desktop computers. This is the reason why some technicians might charge more, especially when it comes to hardware issues.

Hardware problems are generally more complicated than software issues because it entails some tearing down of the parts. If you don’t have any experience in doing this, it is better not to attempt doing it at all. A simple wrong move can just cause your laptop to become more damaged, which might lead to more expenses. If you have a bit of knowledge in computers and are comfortable troubleshooting your laptop yourself, then you go ahead and try your magic. Before doing any troubleshooting steps, check the warranty of your laptop first. As you know, laptops and computers will come with a warranty from the manufacturer. If the unit is still covered by the warranty, you are lucky. If it’s past the warranty coverage, then you would need to step up and have it fixed by someone like DQSupport or fix it yourself.

One of the most common problems laptops have is webcam related. A lot of people have complained that their webcams suddenly just stopped working. This issue can be caused by several reasons such as corrupted applications, corrupted drivers or even a virus infection. Here are some simple steps that you can do yourself to figure out the problem and eventually fix it. To check if the application is the one causing the error, you can download and try out a new webcam application like Skype, YM or Windows Live Messenger. If the webcam seems to be working with the new application, the issue can be with the built-in application that you were using. You can uninstall that old software and use the newly downloaded one instead.

If it still doesn’t work with your newly downloaded applications, the issue could be because of a corrupted driver. Go to the Device Manager and check for a yellow exclamation mark on the hardware tab. This sign is an indication that there is something wrong with the device. Resolution for this would be to uninstall and re-install your drivers. You can usually find the appropriate webcam drivers at the support site of your laptop. If you have already gotten to this part and the webcam is still not fixed, you might have a bigger hardware problem. You might need to have your laptop diagnosed by a DQSupport technician to know what is causing the built-in webcam to malfunction.

Another common issue that people have is how some webcams don’t work after standby mode or hibernation. This happens because a lot of common video applications don’t adjust to the power change of the computer system. All you have to do is restart the application or restart the laptop, and it should come up again fine. The secret to having a laptop in excellent condition is excellent maintenance. As long as you take care of your laptop, application problems like this shouldn’t be an issue.

The internet has been one of the biggest innovations of our modern world. It has not just made life more convenient, it has also kept families, friends and loved ones connected. Nothing is infallible though, so even this advanced technology experiences major problems. A lot of people depend so much on the internet that when it crashes, they go berserk.

Wireless connection technology is a convenient way to access the internet. This feature is excellent for laptops. You don’t need an ethernet cable connected to the modem and laptop anymore. With wireless connection, you can bring your laptop to a different location, as long as your computer is within reach of your wireless router.

In this article, I will give you some information on how to troubleshoot your wireless connection. However, you need to make sure that your internet connection is working. Meaning to say that at least you can connect to the internet hard wired. Hard wired means the computer is connected directly to your modem through an ethernet cable. If you can connect to the internet hard wired, we can narrow down your internet problems.

If you are using Windows XP, right-click on your wireless connection icon located on the right-hand corner of your screen. Then click on repair. It should automatically fix your wireless connection. You can also locate the wireless connection settings by clicking on start > control panel (switch to classic view) > network connections > right-click on wireless network connection > click properties > click repair.

You can try to rebuild your wireless connection if the repair option won’t work. Rebuild means removing the wireless connection profile and then creating a new one. It is possible that your wireless connection profile was corrupted. Before doing this step, take note of your wireless connection password as you will need that later on. To rebuild your wireless connection, click on start > control panel > network connections > right-click on “wireless connection” icon > click on “properties” > click “wireless networks” tab > under “preferred networks” click on your wireless connection profile > click remove > click OK.

After removing the wireless connection profile, you should go back to “network connections” > right-click on “wireless network connection” > click on “view available wireless networks” > click “refresh” on the left-hand top > click on your wireless connection profile then click on “Connect”. Type the WEP key if needed.

If you don’t know your WEP key, try to access the router settings. The settings depend on the brand of your wireless router. Find the instruction manual for additional information. You can also try resetting the router if you have no idea what the WEP key is. This method will allow you to re-configure the router settings. Make sure that you have the instructional manual for the step-by-step configuration of the router, if not you can just Google the steps needed. If you find all of this too complicated, try to contact the manufacturer of your router for further assistance.

DQSupport can help you any Wireless Networking issues you have, and can get you setup in not time flat. Contact us today for our help!

Some computers come with more than one fan or slots where you can add more fans if you find that you need them for cooling. For instance the case I am using right now has three fans installed in it. This could be a good idea if you live in an area where you get consistent high temperatures, or if the room you have your computer set up in gets very warm.

You will want the fans to face outward, in other words you want them to function as exhaust fans, pulling the built up heat out of your case. If you mount them blowing inwards you risk the air they produce moving wires around and possibly damaging the circuits inside the case.

Once you have the fan you need to install, remove all power from the case and if necessary, move it out to an area where you have room to work on it. This will save you a lot of frustration as it is often hard to work on your computer in cramped quarters. Then remove the screws on the outside of the case that hold the fan in place. There could be anywhere from two to six screws holding the fan. Put the screws where you can find them, you will need them to mount the new fan securely in place.

Then open your computer case, remember to ground yourself by touching the exposed metal of the case before touching anything inside. This keeps static charges from damaging the circuits in the computer. Locate the fan you need to remove and gently move it as far as possible out of the way. Leave the power cables attached to it. Get your new fan out and transfer the power cables to the new fan, make sure all the cables are connected the same way they were on the old fan. When you have all the power cables connected to the new fan, move the old fan out of the way and insert the new fan. Use the screws you saved to mount the new fan securely in the case. You should be done, close the case up and connect the power and your fan should be working.

Probably not, but they do look cool. The choice of getting a keyboard with LED lights built in is strictly a personal choice. Unless of course you use your computer in the dark a lot, then LED lights can have a practical use. There are a lot of people who never learned to type without looking at the keys, for these people, having the keys lit up at night can be a real benefit.

Changing out your keyboard is one of the easiest upgrades you can possibly do to your computer. However, there are some things to consider before you buy a new one. There are a variety of keyboards on the market now; you need to decide which one would work the best for you.
You could choose to replace the keyboard with one that is basically the same as the one that came with your computer, or you could upgrade it to a style of keyboard that will be more convenient for you to use. You can also choose from a variety of colors for your keyboard, most brands come in black, white, and stainless. If you bought your computer as a complete package then you may want to stay with the same brand name as your computer. This should not limit your options though, most brand names come in a variety of styles.

Along with a variety of LED colored lights, keyboards also come with either wireless or USB connections. So if you are tired of the mess of wires it takes to hook everything up to the back of your tower, a wireless keyboard may be a good upgrade for you. You also have the option of the basic style of keyboard, similar to the one that came with your computer, or a very slim model that is not much thicker than a piece of paper. There are even keyboards out there now that can be completely submerged in soapy water to clean them.

If you are left handed they make a keyboard just for you. There are also keyboards that are split in the center placing the keys at an angle that is supposed to be more comfortable for some people to use. You also have to consider whether an ergonomic shape would be more comfortable for you to use. If you do a lot of work on your computer this could definitely make your life easier not to mention more comfortable. They offer much greater support to your wrists and prevent pain from extend periods of time typing. Many offices have switched to this style to prevent wrist strain.
Almost all of these options can be found with the LED lighting option if you are willing to look around. Many allow you to choose the color you want the LED lights to come in. Once you find the perfect keyboard, it is easy to install, if it’s a USB hook up just plug it in and run the disc. For the wireless varieties you just load the disc.

The first step is deciding what amount of power you computer needs. If you have had problems and need to replace the old one, you should probably buy one that is a little more powerful. I say this because if the old power supply fried, it could be because it wasn’t big enough or powerful enough for the computer you are running. It could also be a faulty equipment problem not all power supplies are made equal.

So if you are replacing a 400 W power supply you might want to buy a 450 W or higher. Keep in mind that if you are just using your computer for surfing the web you probably don’t need the most powerful one that you can find, just one that is slightly more powerful than the one you are replacing. However, if you are playing a lot of high graphic games on the computer then you may want to go with a larger power supply. It just depends on what the computer is being used for.

Once you have the new power supply and are ready to install it, you need to turn off the power to your tower. If the tower is in a cramped area where it is hard to work on it, you’ll need to move it out, this means unhooking everything from the back of the tower. Remember where they were attached so you can replace them when you are done.

Next you need to open your tower case, depending on the case this could be removing a side panel, or the top panel, some open up like a book, again it just depends on the type of case you have. Make sure you ground yourself before touching anything inside the case; you can either buy an anti-static wrist band or keep touching the metal portion of the case. You need to do this to protect the electrical components inside the computer.

Then remove the four mounting screws that hold the old power supply in place, and gently set this aside. Do not remove any of the connections from the old power supply yet. Place the new power supply in the case and secure it using the four screws you removed from the old power supply, and then using the old power supply as a guide move the connections one at a time to the new power supply. This saves a lot of confusion and ensures that you connect things in the correct place.

Once you have everything connected to the new power supply you are ready to close up the case. Before you close it check to be sure that it is clean and dust free. Dust particles inside your computer case can settle on the motherboard and cause the circuits on the board to overheat.
Reattach all your peripherals and power up the computer. When it turns on you may get a found new hardware message depending on the operating system you are using.

If you have checked everything else and still have no sound, it may be time to replace your audio or sound card. This is a little tricky, but it can be done. Keep in mind that a sound card is not a card; it is more like a circuit board. Just remember throughout the process that force is not an option, be gentle.

First you need to find a new sound card that is compatible with the rest of your computer system, mainly the motherboard, power supply and speakers. If you use your computer for gaming, listening to music or watching DVD’s this could be a good time to consider upgrading to a better sound card as well. There are some really nice options out there now, most of which do not come standard on a computer.

Once you have the sound card, you need to unhook all the peripherals from the back of the computer including the power cable. Next move the case to an area where you have room to work and good lighting, a work bench or kitchen table are good options. You just need somewhere clean with plenty of room, because you are going to have to lay your tower on the side to work on the sound card.

Look on the back of your case and you will see where all the speaker connection are, these are the colored pegs where you plug the speakers in at, usually these are pink, green, blue and yellow. There should be tow screws there that need to be removed. Remove them, but put them somewhere you can find them you will need them again.

Then open your case, there should be one more screw holding in the sound card, remove this screw and keep it separate from the other two. Gently rock the sound card to work it loose. Do not pry or force it out that could damage the connections. Once you have it out gently remove the connecting cables and attach them to the new sound card.

Insert the new sound card, making sure that it is lined up correctly. If it does not want to slide into the slot the old card was in, remove it and make sure nothing is blocking the slot then try again. This is where the patience comes in; forcing the card could damage it.

Once you have it installed and everything is lined up replace the screws you removed, first the one inside and then the two outside the case. You should be all set.

With care your computer could easily outlast the video card that came with it. New technology is constantly coming out with better and clearer graphics for games and movies. This upgrade in technology also means that your video card will probably need to be upgraded at least once during the life of your computer. Thankfully replacing the video card is not a difficult process. Getting the right video card to install could be the more difficult problem.

When you go to the store or look online for a new graphics card there are some things you will need to know about your computer. What motherboard you have installed is one of these things, if you are using an older computer, your motherboard may not have the connections for the newer video cards.

While it would be nice to just order the newest card that everyone is talking about on the game you play online, if it doesn’t have a place to connect it to the motherboard it isn’t going to do you much good. A good rule of thumb is to find out what kind of video card you presently have installed and then try to find one with more built in memory, or better speed, or both.

You can find out what video card you have installed by clicking on My Computer, Properties, and then Device Manager, this should bring up a list of the hardware on your computer. Write down the information about your video card and then go shopping. When you have the new video card, repeat the above steps and at Device Manager go on to Display Adapters, you will need to select your video card from the list and Remove it. Now you are ready to shut down the computer and install the new video card.

Unplug all power sources from your computer and open up the case. You may have to unplug the peripherals from the back of the case if you need to move it so that you have room to work on it. When you have the case open, find your video card, there will probably be one screw holding it in place that you will have to remove, as well as a cable or connector. Remove the old card, and attached the cable to your new card. Carefully insert the new card into the slot.

It can sometimes be a bit difficult to get the new video card in, make sure that it is aligned with the notches in the mounting slot, and then press it gently in place. Be very careful with this as trying to force the card into the slot can damage the connections and result in having to buy another new card. When the card is installed and the holding screw is back in place, close up your case. Reattach the peripherals that you had to disconnect and power up your computer. You will need to load the drivers from the disc that came with the new video card. Then you should be ready to play!

If you listen to a lot of music on your computer and want it to sound like it does when it’s played live in the club then you may want to consider a surround sound system. This is great if you live alone or have a sound proof computer room. It may be a little too much of a good thing though if you share your house with others.

You can find some nice speakers that will produce good sound with only two speaker systems though. This is the most common set up for computer speakers so you may find that this option allows you a wider variety of brands to choose from. Some sets come with just the speakers and some also include a sub woofer that acts as the main power supply for the speakers.

If you are still producing more sound than other people in the house appreciate you could always decide to go with a headphone set. This option allows you to listen to your music at the level you enjoy, but others in the house do not have to listen with you. Many people who play online games use a combination of head phones and microphone together to allow them to talk to the other people that are gaming with them.

Once you have made the decision on the best speaker system to fit your needs, it is very easy to install them. If you went with a two speaker set, which is the one most people use with their computers, then you will have a right and left speaker and possibly a sub woofer. One speaker will usually have the volume control knob on it. On mine this is on the right hand speaker, which is handy because I am right handed. You may be able to find a set with the controls on the left speaker if you are left handed.

On the back of the speaker will be a cord coming out and on one there will also be a jack or a spot to plug a cord in. Some sets allow the speakers to be interconnected and some just have both hook up directly to the sub woofer. Plug the cord from the sub woofer into the outgoing jack on the back of your tower. This jack will be down by the area where your sound card is installed. Then plug in the power cord which is usually attached to the sub woofer. Turn on the computer. You may need to load a driver disc if one came with your speaker system, if not then you should be all set.