Search results

I’d like to upgrade my laptop from 32-bit Windows 7 to 64-bit. Judging from what I see on the Windows website, it looks like my computer has ample RAM and processing power for 64-bit, but I am concerned about the video card requirement. They say I need a “DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM...

I have three 1/3-octave AudioControl C-131 equalizers for sale. This is a rare opportunity to buy an extra unit for the center channel without the expense of a second bundled stereo pair. This is hands down one of the finest equalizers ever offered for home audio systems...

Okay, I don’t have anything resembling a green thumbs. I can identify some trees etc. that seem to be indigenous to our area, - pines, oaks, weeping willow, etc. – but I have no idea what these things are that have cropped up in my yard. Can someone help? We live in the Houston area, if that...

Not sure how much attention this will get with all these "Babe" threads going, but... Never have understood, why do they put up wall switches for dishwashers, which basically switches the electrical outlet they are plugged in to. What’s the point of this? In an emergency, like if it’s...

Okay, I’m not a happy camper. A cool camper would be more like it, is in “shivering.” Earlier this summer, a late-night thunderstorm knocked out the main circuit board for our central AC unit – cost us $350 to get it replaced. Now that we need it, we find the gas furnace is not working, and I...

I know a lot of you have made custom DIY video cables using Canare coaxial cable and crimp-on RCAs. My question is, did you see a visual improvement with them vs. the store-bought composite or component video cables you were using before? If so (or if not), what kind of display are you using...

I downloaded Java Runtime to facilitate the installation of Room EQ Wizard. In the “Add or Remove Programs” section my Control Panel, I see there are Java Runtime Upgrades 8, 9, 10, and 11. The four of these combined are taking up 500 MB of space. Do I need all four of them? Regards, Wayne...

I bought a Pioneer CD recorder a while back so I could make CDs of some old LP albums and cassettes I have. I’d like to rip the CDR’s to my computer to clean up the clicks and pops etc. and then burn a fresh disc (I have some music CD-RW’s I’ll use and re-use for my “masters”). So –...

I’m looking for a stand-alone USB hard drive that I can use (with my laptop) as a back up for my files. I don’t need anything huge, 20-30 gig would be more than enough. I’d also like for it to be quiet. The Western Digital drive I used to have in my tower made a constant, annoying, high-pitched...

I’m in the market for an LCD monitor, and trying to decide between a 17” or 19”. I notice that they both have the same resolution, 1280 x 1024. Is it safe to assume that the 19” won’t be quite as sharp as a 17”? Any other considerations? I’m primarily interested in LG, since I’ve always been...

My buddy is having trouble with his Direct TV system dropping out and "pixelating" like crazy. Recently he put in a service call and the guy told him his antenna was probably bad. Is this possible? He has a dual LNB anntenna with the two wires going onto the attic to a two in-four out...

Hi Everyone, We’re considering getting Direct TV with a DVR, and from what I’ve seen on DTV’s website, their DVRs are Tivo based. So I’m trying to figure out if I should go with one that DTV will provide, or just buy my own. Any economic advantage to the latter? Either case, what’s...

We got a Toshiba DVD-R/RW for Christmas, and it has a peculiar (and irritating) “problem.” It flags some TV shows as “copyright protected” and won’t record them. WB programming seems to be the worst offender. We’re using cable TV, by the way. Anyone else ever heard of this? Any way to defeat...

Test

Does anyone make a stand-alone DVR that you could use in place of a VCR? I really don’t want to rent a recorder from the cable company, or pay for a subscription service like TIVO, but they’re the only ones I’ve seen. Regards, Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Every Texan’s worse nightmare – AC problems in the summer! :angry: We moved into this place back in February, and the AC has been cooling decently this summer, if not outstandingly. It was draining a lot of water out the pipe on the side of the house, enough to have a puddle of water on the...

Anyone here familiar with the HP Pavilion 220? I’m considering buying a 2-year-old one from my son since my computer died today. I know some computers use a lot of proprietary pieces that can’t be changed, so I’m wondering if you can switch out components in the HP. I’d like to install my...

I was gearing up to hardwire a network system for our new place, but people close to me are trying to convince me to go wireless instead. My only concern is the reliability of the wireless routers. So far we’ve had pretty poor luck with hardwired routers. We’re on our third one – these...

We recently move to a new place (new to us at least) and unlike our old place, this one is turning out to be something of a home theater challenge. The only place to put the “front of house” is on an outside wall with windows and a patio door. To minimize blocking the view from the windows, the...

Well, I picked up a pair of Swans M-200 computer speakers the other day, and I must say I’m very impressed. With everything but the bass, that is. I asked around before I bought them and was told that their bass response was good enough that I wouldn’t need a subwoofer. Wrong. So – I’m...

I have a good friend with some vandalism issues at her house, and she’s interested in getting a surveillance video camera. She called on me, ‘cause I’m her electronics guru. Problem is, I don’t know much about these things, so I’m coming here to HTF so I can appear to know what I’m talking about...

Hi everyone, I keep getting this flag from Zone Alarms, that a program is trying to send a clear text password when I try to open some web pages. For instance, it will say that Microsoft Windows (TM) Messaging Subsystem Spooler or some other program is trying to send "eBay password" to the...

SVS Takes on the Industry Giants Subwoofers evaluated: Infinity PS-12 $449 JBL E150P $402 SVS PB10-ISD $429 Velodyne VRP-1200 $349 INTRODUCTION "Who, me?" That was my reaction when I got an e-mail from Ron Stimpson of SVS a few months ago asking if I would be interested in evaluating SVS’...

test.

Well, I’m not a happy camper. Our furnace is out. Perfect timing, of course. It’s a late model central A/C – heating unit, a Payne (made by Carrier, I’m told) installed in 2001. I went up to the attic to check it out, thinking the pilot was probably out, or perhaps the thermocouple, and found...

Test Test Test Test Test

I guess it was all the action it got with the Thanksgiving feast, but our microwave unceremoniously bit the dust the other day. It comes on – the lights and fan work, just don’t get that hum you normally hear when it’s heating. I was wondering if there’s an easy fix for these things – an...

Hey everybody, I have either a finicky computer or a finicky CD drive, I don’t know which. Okay, I know this computer leaves a lot to be desired – just not as certain about the CD drives. What the deal is, the drive that came with the computer is kinda cheap, and it doesn’t do a good job...

Hi everyone, Since time immemorial I’ve always had a nice stereo in my car (and my wife’s too) – that is, until a few years ago when I bought the old “beater” I’m presently driving. I wasn’t sure how long I was going to be using it, so didn’t want to go through all the trouble it takes to do...

After recently catching a snippet of Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Man Who Knew Too Much” late-night on one of the classic movie channels, I decided to see if I could get a DVD of it off eBay. The one I want is the 1956 remake with Jimmy Stewart. I’ve noticed that there are two versions available...