The Ask anything about computers thread

[Espinosa's Glasses]

No, meaning that the hub could be damaged (or poorly connected to the motherboard), disabling the entire USB bus.

Yeah... thats what I meant... sorry.

How can I check if thats the case??

[RhodyYanksFan]

What is the best and easiest program to use to burn DVDs that I can play on my tv? I have lots of porn that I wanna enjoy while sitting on my couch.

I like DVDShrink. It compresses the stuff to fit on a single layer DVD (if need be), and you can also leave off extra features you don't need. Then I use Nero to burn.

My new laptop has light-scribe technology. Do I need to buy the light-scribe DVDs or will it work on any blank?

[yankswn23]

I like DVDShrink. It compresses the stuff to fit on a single layer DVD (if need be), and you can also leave off extra features you don't need. Then I use Nero to burn.

My new laptop has light-scribe technology. Do I need to buy the light-scribe DVDs or will it work on any blank?

Nero is great, i use dvdshrink and also DVDplatinum something I can't remember.. I use GOM player to play all my divx based (*ahem*) movies..

EDIT: answer to your question lightscribe cd's are regular cd's with a coding on the front to burn an image, you flip the disc over to this side to burn the image, you can use regular blank dvd-s in the drive just fine..

[xenadanielle]

Hey, Jason. Not only am I a Mac n00b but also new to having a computer in my house so I am still not sure about some stuff. To that end, I am pretty sure I am using some neighbor's wireless connection--it says "linksys." We don't have a Linksys wireless router, nor any wireless router just the modem Optimum Online installed. I don't want to steal anyone's wireless for lots or reasons and want to set things up securely in our apt so I was going to buy a new router--do you have any recommendations?

[Sam18]

Thanks for your help guys. I'll look into it.

[RhodyYanksFan]

Nero is great, i use dvdshrink and also DVDplatinum something I can't remember.. I use GOM player to play all my divx based (*ahem*) movies..

EDIT: answer to your question lightscribe cd's are regular cd's with a coding on the front to burn an image, you flip the disc over to this side to burn the image, you can use regular blank dvd-s in the drive just fine..

I knew I could still use any blank dvds, but will the light scribe only work on blanks with this coding, or can I burn labels onto any blanks?

[4bronxbombers]

Speaking of that, we tried to install linksys and followed the prompts but the password wouldn't work right. Do we need to try it all over again? I wanted it set up for when I bought the laptop.

[YASS]

I knew I could still use any blank dvds, but will the light scribe only work on blanks with this coding, or can I burn labels onto any blanks?

Sorry, no. Lightscribe can't burn labels onto ordinary disks.

[YASS]

Thanks for your help guys. I'll look into it.

Sam, if you're looking just to burn .mpg or .avi files onto a disk, then DVDShrink is not the complete answer, since it requires the video to be in DVD format already (VOB files).

If that's the case, what you're looking for is some kind of DVD authoring software or something that will convert MPEG or AVI files to VOBs so that you can burn them with DVDShrink or Nero.

Here are some free ones.

[Sam18]

Sam, if you're looking just to burn .mpg or .avi files onto a disk, then DVDShrink is not the complete answer, since it requires the video to be in DVD format already (VOB files).

If that's the case, what you're looking for is some kind of DVD authoring software or something that will convert MPEG or AVI files to VOBs so that you can burn them with DVDShrink or Nero.

Here are some free ones.

Yes yes this is what I actually needed, thank you.

[yankswn23]

I knew I could still use any blank dvds, but will the light scribe only work on blanks with this coding, or can I burn labels onto any blanks?

no it can detect when a dvd is lightscribe.

[yankswn23]

Hey, Jason. Not only am I a Mac n00b but also new to having a computer in my house so I am still not sure about some stuff. To that end, I am pretty sure I am using some neighbor's wireless connection--it says "linksys." We don't have a Linksys wireless router, nor any wireless router just the modem Optimum Online installed. I don't want to steal anyone's wireless for lots or reasons and want to set things up securely in our apt so I was going to buy a new router--do you have any recommendations?

How much money do you want to spend, you can go linksys for around a 100, they are great routers or you can go as high tech as I went and spend 250 for an lcd display.. depends also if you want a 802.g or the new 802.n standard for speed

[yankswn23]

Hey, Jason. Not only am I a Mac n00b but also new to having a computer in my house so I am still not sure about some stuff. To that end, I am pretty sure I am using some neighbor's wireless connection--it says "linksys." We don't have a Linksys wireless router, nor any wireless router just the modem Optimum Online installed. I don't want to steal anyone's wireless for lots or reasons and want to set things up securely in our apt so I was going to buy a new router--do you have any recommendations?

How much money do you want to spend, you can go linksys for around a 50, they are great routers or you can go as high tech as I went and spend 150 for an lcd display.. depends also if you want a 802.g or the new 802.n standard for speed

here is the one I have and I love it but I paid for more fancy features

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1182557691250

Here is a good one I would reccommend.. linksys are pretty easy to set up..

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1051384663529

[yankeeschic12324]

Do I need special CD's to copy photos? At some point, I'd like to copy all my photos onto CD's/DVD's in case this computer craps out on me. I didn't bother to before and I lost thousands of photos. Sadness. Anyway, ideas?

[YASS]

Do I need special CD's to copy photos? At some point, I'd like to copy all my photos onto CD's/DVD's in case this computer craps out on me. I didn't bother to before and I lost thousands of photos. Sadness. Anyway, ideas?

Any CD or DVD will do. You don't need anything special.

[yankeeschic12324]

Any CD or DVD will do. You don't need anything special.

Sweet! Will I need to shrink all the photos?

[YASS]

Sweet! Will I need to shrink all the photos?

I wouldn't. If you shrink them, you lose resolution, and you probably don't want that.

No, just keep them whatever size they are, and just put as many as you can on a single CD or DVD (obviously DVDs will hold more than CDs). If there are some that don't fit, just plop in another disk.

[yankeeschic12324]

I wouldn't. If you shrink them, you lose resolution, and you probably don't want that.

No, just keep them whatever size they are, and just put as many as you can on a single CD or DVD (obviously DVDs will hold more than CDs). If there are some that don't fit, just plop in another disk.

Thats awesome. Thanks again

[yankeebot]

Do I need special CD's to copy photos? At some point, I'd like to copy all my photos onto CD's/DVD's in case this computer craps out on me. I didn't bother to before and I lost thousands of photos. Sadness. Anyway, ideas?

You might want to get an external HD and copy your photos to it as well.

[yankswn23]

Do I need special CD's to copy photos? At some point, I'd like to copy all my photos onto CD's/DVD's in case this computer craps out on me. I didn't bother to before and I lost thousands of photos. Sadness. Anyway, ideas?

A dvd holds around 4.7 GB so you shoul dbe able to fit a lot of pictures on there, I would create different photos and group them by subject, I save all my .Raw image on a separte drive, external drives are getting cheap now a days, so you might want to pick one up to backup your photo's to.

[yankswn23]

Hey, Jason. Not only am I a Mac n00b but also new to having a computer in my house so I am still not sure about some stuff. To that end, I am pretty sure I am using some neighbor's wireless connection--it says "linksys." We don't have a Linksys wireless router, nor any wireless router just the modem Optimum Online installed. I don't want to steal anyone's wireless for lots or reasons and want to set things up securely in our apt so I was going to buy a new router--do you have any recommendations?

Also check out the airport extreme, or time machine if you really want to spend some moolah.. those are apple devices that are designed for wireless routing and backup

[yankeebot]

Danielle, I don't know about Optimum but when I got my laptop, I just called Verizon and they replaced my modem with one that includes the wireless for N/C.

[xenadanielle]

Danielle, I don't know about Optimum but when I got my laptop, I just called Verizon and they replaced my modem with one that includes the wireless for N/C.

Hm! I really should call them b/c my bf is alleging that we were supposed to be wireless "ready" since that is what he told them he wanted but all we have is the Motorola modem. Then I was not home when the guy came--actually one of our friends came to the house to be there and he is clueless about everything--so I really don't don't what they installed. The MB finds a few networks but only the linksys (which, if it's not a neighbor, I suspect may be @ the Dunkin Donuts around the corner) and maybe one other one is not secure.

And thanks Jason, if I do end up buying a router I will look at all those options!

[gsars5]

Does anybody know how to find my ip address on my computer? It's dial-up and Windows 98. I tried to type 'ipconfig' in the run box but it pops up for a second then disappears. I need to find this out because my credit card info was used to purchase something from an internet company and this was the info they gave me. I want to see if I can track this down and make sure it wasn't done from my pc.

Thanks,

Greg

[YASS]

Does anybody know how to find my ip address on my computer? It's dial-up and Windows 98. I tried to type 'ipconfig' in the run box but it pops up for a second then disappears. I need to find this out because my credit card info was used to purchase something from an internet company and this was the info they gave me. I want to see if I can track this down and make sure it wasn't done from my pc.

Thanks,

Greg

From the run box, type 'cmd' to open up a DOS window, then type 'ipconfig' in that DOS window.

[THEBOSS84]

I am looking to buy a used, good condition iMac with 20' inch screen. The cost of a new one on apple.com is $1199. How much should I expect to pay? I need it to be worth it to buy it used, otherwise I'll buy a brand new one.

[yankswn23]

Does anybody know how to find my ip address on my computer? It's dial-up and Windows 98. I tried to type 'ipconfig' in the run box but it pops up for a second then disappears. I need to find this out because my credit card info was used to purchase something from an internet company and this was the info they gave me. I want to see if I can track this down and make sure it wasn't done from my pc.

Thanks,

Greg

you can run cmd to get the dos prompt then type in the ipconfig, if you can't you can find the dos command prompt in the programs section it might be under accessories if I remember correctly..

[yankswn23]

I am looking to buy a used, good condition iMac with 20' inch screen. The cost of a new one on apple.com is $1199. How much should I expect to pay? I need it to be worth it to buy it used, otherwise I'll buy a brand new one.

check out refurbished ones at the apple store, you can save alot and you know it is good quality if apple has refurbished, me personally if it is a 100 bucks or so its prob best to buy it new when it comes to a computer, if you buy one used you dont know if they have voided the warranty till apple goes to fix it..

Refurbished iMac 20-inch 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo

Limited Time Special Price

20-inch glossy widescreen display
1GB memory
250GB hard drive
8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT with 128MB memory
Built-in iSight Camera

Learn More

• Save 17% off the original price

this is for 999.00 on their site..

[fredgmuggs]

check out refurbished ones at the apple store, you can save alot and you know it is good quality if apple has refurbished, me personally if it is a 100 bucks or so its prob best to buy it new when it comes to a computer, if you buy one used you dont know if they have voided the warranty till apple goes to fix it..

I thought about going that route but I'm concerned sometimes for whatever reason, maybe even just kismet, a computer is simply a lemon and I don't want to get stuck with someone else's problems.

So, my question is does anyone have any experience buying a refurbished computer from one the manufactures? (say like Dell?)

[shotz]

Kudos to the computer Gurus we have here. thanks for all your help.

[gsars5]

you can run cmd to get the dos prompt then type in the ipconfig, if you can't you can find the dos command prompt in the programs section it might be under accessories if I remember correctly..

I tried to type 'cmd' and I get, file can't be found. Where in accessories do I find the dos prompt? Thanks.

[yankswn23]

I tried to type 'cmd' and I get, file can't be found. Where in accessories do I find the dos prompt? Thanks.

I can't remember for 98 try utilities.. I though however it might be an icon in my programs somewhere in the main screen before you go into any sub folders

[yankswn23]

Oh and just to let you know most people expect a new imac with the new penryn proccessor in the next couple of weeks so the price may drop even further..

[CptCrunch]

Does anybody know how to find my ip address on my computer? It's dial-up and Windows 98. I tried to type 'ipconfig' in the run box but it pops up for a second then disappears. I need to find this out because my credit card info was used to purchase something from an internet company and this was the info they gave me. I want to see if I can track this down and make sure it wasn't done from my pc.

Thanks,

Greg

I'm not sure how helpful that info would be to you because a dial-up ISP will usually assign a different IP address each time you dial in.

[yankswn23]

I'm not sure how helpful that info would be to you because a dial-up ISP will usually assign a different IP address each time you dial in.

ahhh.. didn't notice it was a dial up..unless you have it set to set a static IP the ip would change each time that is correct..

[CptCrunch]

I thought about going that route but I'm concerned sometimes for whatever reason, maybe even just kismet, a computer is simply a lemon and I don't want to get stuck with someone else's problems.

So, my question is does anyone have any experience buying a refurbished computer from one the manufactures? (say like Dell?)

I bought a Dell refurb laptop for my sister in 2001. It was horribly obsolete after a few years so she upgraded to a newer laptop, but the refurb is still kicking.

[YASS]

I tried to type 'cmd' and I get, file can't be found. Where in accessories do I find the dos prompt? Thanks.

You can navigate to C:\WINDOWS\System and look for cmd.exe (that's where it should be, anyway. When you find it, just double click on it to open a command window.

It is true that if your connection is dial-up, you're probably going to get a new IP address every time, but chances are the first two segments of the IP address will always be the same, so you might be able to rule out an IP address as having belonged to you if there's a mismatch in that part of the address.

[gsars5]

You can navigate to C:\WINDOWS\System and look for cmd.exe (that's where it should be, anyway. When you find it, just double click on it to open a command window.

It is true that if your connection is dial-up, you're probably going to get a new IP address every time, but chances are the first two segments of the IP address will always be the same, so you might be able to rule out an IP address as having belonged to you if there's a mismatch in that part of the address.

Ok, I did that and I get a whole bunch of folders and windows with initials but I don't see cmd.exe. Could it have a different initial?

[yankeeschic12324]

You might want to get an external HD and copy your photos to it as well.

I was thinking I might do that as well at some point....

[YASS]

Ok, I did that and I get a whole bunch of folders and windows with initials but I don't see cmd.exe. Could it have a different initial?

Hmmm ... that's where I'd expect it to be.

All I can suggest at this point is to do a find (Start->Find) for the file 'cmd.exe' and see if it's anywhere else.

[gsars5]

Hmmm ... that's where I'd expect it to be.

All I can suggest at this point is to do a find (Start->Find) for the file 'cmd.exe' and see if it's anywhere else.

That didn't work. Could it be somewhere in the dial-up window's settings?

[YASS]

That didn't work. Could it be somewhere in the dial-up window's settings?

You know, I got so hung up on getting you a command window, I forgot all about the windows version of ipconfig.

Try this: Select 'Start', then 'Run ...', and type 'winipcfg'

[yankeebot]

IIRC, with 98, you can right click My Network Places, choose Properties, then TCP/IP, then Properties again, and the IP Address tab. But I may have forgotten something.

[gsars5]

You know, I got so hung up on getting you a command window, I forgot all about the windows version of ipconfig.

Try this: Select 'Start', then 'Run ...', and type 'winipcfg'

Yes, that's what the windows help page had me do. Now I have a window that says IP configuration, are the numbers next to adapter addess my ip address?

[YASS]

Yes, that's what the windows help page had me do. Now I have a window that says IP configuration, are the numbers next to adapter addess my ip address?

I don't remember too much about what winipcfg looks like because it's been several years since I used Windows 98.

An IP address usually is presented as 4 numbers (0-256) separated by dots, like this: 192.168.0.1

Since yours is a dialup connection, it should be a PPP adapter.

[gsars5]

I don't remember too much about what winipcfg looks like because it's been several years since I used Windows 98.

An IP address usually is presented as 4 numbers (0-256) separated by dots, like this: 192.168.0.1

Since yours is a dialup connection, it should be a PPP adapter.

Yes, it says PPP adapter, the adapter addess, then the IP addess, but it just says 0.0.0.0

[yankswn23]

Hmmm ... that's where I'd expect it to be.

All I can suggest at this point is to do a find (Start->Find) for the file 'cmd.exe' and see if it's anywhere else.

didn't windows 98 still have DOS, so it might be in that directory..don't think cmd was introduced until 2000

actully try typing in winipcfg in the run box.. if I remember right that might be what you need..

[YASS]

Yes, it says PPP adapter, the adapter addess, then the IP addess, but it just says 0.0.0.0

I have to say I'm stumped.

Sorry I couldn't help.

[yankswn23]

I dont think you will have an ip address unless the modem is actually connected..

[gsars5]

I have to say I'm stumped.

Sorry I couldn't help.

Thanks anyway.