Computer Fans Rev Up Periodically

October 20, 2011 By

Subscriber Don Newsham wrote recently with an interesting question…

Terry, thanks again for the tips you gave me a few months ago.

Recently ,while on the computer it will “rev up” for a couple of seconds and then be quiet. It will stay quite for 5,10 , minutes and then rev up again. Is this anything serious?

The computer is 6 years old, e-machine, Vista

I quickly answered Don, telling him that the rev’ing up sounds like it is probably a fan. The typical system fans are the CPU fan, the chipset fan or the power supply fan.

The chipset fan is usually a small, high-speed fan. It’s sound, as it starts to have problems, would tend to be a high whine. The sound would be constant — it would not stop and start, as the chipset fan runs all the time. Note that all computers have heatsinks on the chipsets, but not all have fans on the chipsets’ heatsinks.

The power supply fan will tend to make noise when its going bad, but they’re usually variable speed fans. Some power supplies have variable speed fans, though. It could be the power supply fan, but I don’t think that’s it.

Continue reading Computer Fans Rev Up Periodically

Filed Under: Hardware, Tips & Tricks, Upgrading

Adding Memory to the HP Color LaserJet CP1518ni

June 6, 2010 By

One of the differences between inkjet printers and laser printers has to do with handling of the data to be printed.

An inkjet printer gets its commands for each printed line, one at a time, from Windows. It prints the line and gets the data for the next line. Sometimes they buffer a little of the data so there’s no hesitation, but Windows is talking to the printer thoughout the whole print job.

That’s not the way that laser printers work. A laser printer has to get all the data for a whole page before it starts to print that page.

What happens if there is so much content, shapes or colors, that the printer’s memory can’t receive the entire page? You can’t print it. You have to add memory.

That happened to me one time with my LaserJet 1200, so I had upgraded its memory a long time ago.

Now, with the new printer, I needed to think about that possibility. Surely it wouldn’t be a problem, but it shouldn’t have ever been a problem with the LaserJet 1200, either.

HP offered extra memory for the Color LaserJet CP1518ni printer, which has an easily accessible side door so the user can pop extra memory into it.

Continue reading Adding Memory to the HP Color LaserJet CP1518ni

Filed Under: Hardware, Tips & Tricks, Upgrading, Vista, Windows Xp

Getting an External Hard Drive

April 16, 2007 By Leave a Comment

You’ll find it really hard to find one as small as 30-40GB today.

The smallest regular external drivve that I’ve seen advertised in a long time is 160GB. These will use normal desktop-type hard drives and will have a power brick that plugs into the wall.

There are some really small GB sizes today — they have notebook drives in them and are about paperbook size — and are usually designed to plug into your PS2 ports or 1 or 2 USB ports to get their power.

Read more in Getting an External Hard Drive

Filed Under: Backup, Data Security, Hardware, Storage, System Security, Tips & Tricks, Upgrading

Is Your Computer Overheating?

March 25, 2007 By 1 Comment

One of the questions I answered recently was about computer overheating. In this case, the individual wanted to know the “right” temperature for his processor — but he didn’t mention which processor he was using or its speed.

His underlying problem was that his computer would spontaneously turn off occasionally. This is usually an indication that the motherboard has shut down automatically to prevent overheating and damage to the CPU.

Many computers allow you to monitor the temperature of the processor, the power supply and perhaps other points, too. You may have to run a special program for your motherboard or computer to be able to see these.

The average temperature for the CPU depends on which processor you’re using. Each manufacturer has difference specifications. For that matter, each of their processor models and speeds has different specs.

Read more in Is Your Computer Overheating?

Filed Under: Hardware, Requirements, System Security, System Stability, Tips & Tricks, Upgrading

A Vista vs. Linux Matchup

February 21, 2007 By 1 Comment

DesktopLinux.com has a great multi-part article where the author is installing Vista and Linux on the same computer for a showdown.

A Vista vs. Linux Matchup describes the installation, issues and compares Vista Ultimate and SimplyMepis 6.1, which is based on Ubuntu Linux.

So far, the articles in the series are “Part 1: Leveling the Playing Field, ” “Part 2: Dual-booting Vista and Linux” and “Part 3: Hardware Wars.” The series has more to go…

Filed Under: Compatibility, Data Security, Graphics, Hardware, Requirements, Reviews, Tips & Tricks, Upgrading, Upgrading to Vista, User Interface, Video

Windows Vista Incredibly Well Received

February 20, 2007 By Leave a Comment

Reuters reported today that Microsoft Corp. founder Bill Gates said on Tuesday the company’s Windows Vista operating system had been incredibly well received.

This is strangely at odds with some of the other articles that I’ve read recently.

Companies like Dell are pushing Vista on many of their popular models. Retail stores with the usual set of prebuilt systems are all pushing Vista. Why not? It’s the first new Microsoft operating system in 5 years! For most people, new OS means New Computer! Yippee!

Filed Under: Reviews, Upgrading, Upgrading to Vista

Vista Ultimate Review

February 19, 2007 By Leave a Comment

I ran across a great, positive review of Windows Ultimate.

Steven Cooper at MBReview.com wrote Vista Ultimate First Thought This is a very positive review, but I get the feeling that the author was attempting to be “fair.”

Filed Under: Reviews, Upgrading
« Older Posts