Miscellaneous

Losing track of time: Fixing computer time and clock problems

Question: Why does my computer keep gaining minutes every day? If I set it back to the right time in the morning, by afternoon it’s gained 5 minutes. Answer: Older cars lose oil. One of my past cars, a lovely 1999 Saturn SC2, started to consume oil after it turned 60,000 miles. However, there wasn’t […]

Entering BIOS settings

All personal computers have BIOS, a Basic Input / Output System that allows you to control some simple but important functions. At certain times (those involving troubleshooting, major system changes or boredom), you’ll need to enter the BIOS (sometimes called “entering CMOS”). When you change BIOS settings, you push a special key when your computer starts […]

Can you pull the plug on your PC? Relax and count to a million

Patricia from cs.com writes: “A problem I have is not being able to shut off the computer. I finally pull the plug, which I do not think is the wisest thing to do?” You’re happily working on the computer, checking your email before work. Your ride pulls up outside and honks. You read, “Please wait […]

How to reload Windows XP

Walt asks: When I try to boot normally or to safe mode, I get a blue screen that tells me that I have a registry problem. My ultimate goal is to reinstall Windows XP SP1 to my Dell dimension 2400. Since I can’t boot to safe mode I can’t reinstall Windows. How can I get […]

Can a PC be left on all the time? Should I turn off my computer at night?

Yes and yes. There used to be many reasons to turn off your PC, often at the end of a workday or before a weekend. These days? Not so much. For those who’d like a longer answer, here are the more common reasons for turning your PC off often and leaving it turned on full-time, […]

Rechargeable batteries, from Li-Ion to NiMH to Ni-Cad

Today’s electronics consume batteries the same way I consume pizza: With gusto. And with Christmas approaching, you’d better be prepared. Even if you don’t intend to buy remote-controlled cars and “See-Me-Smirk Susie” for everyone in your family, chances are you have many devices using many batteries. You’ll often see ads for rechargeable batteries, claiming hundreds […]

Get charged by geek chic watches

Andy’s Law of Accessories states: “The inconvenience of physically wearing an object must be inversely proportional to its functionality.” This means if I wear something, it better do more than look nice. For example, we have clothes: Slightly inconvenient, but they compensate by keeping me warm and saving my oddly-shaped body from public embarrassment. At […]

DataDot DNA review: Protect expensive investments cheaply with electronic DNA

“Okay, punk, gimme the iPod.” As the bully shoved him up against the locker, Chris thought he should be pretty freaked out. But, though he handed over his new multi-hundred-dollar media player with a shaking hand, he started to relax. The bully would take the expensive device, and, like the handheld video game and DVD […]

What is CMOS? What is BIOS? And how the heck do you pronounce them?

CMOS and BIOS are often used interchangeably, but you can think of the BIOS as software, and CMOS as the hardware running it. If someone tells you to “go into your computers CMOS,” or to “go into BIOS and change something”, they probably mean the same thing: Enter the low-level settings on your PC to […]

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