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  1. 2

    Notebook woes!

    Actually this shouldn't have been much of a problem at all... Isopropolene is almost totally non-conductive. We used to spray it on components to cool them down, and on switches to clean them with power on, no problem. Now if you were talking whiskey or wine... yep, there's enough impurity...
  2. 2

    Notebook woes!

    One of the most common causes of "failure" in notebooks is broken cords on the power adaptors. They get flexed, yanked, stepped on, and eventually they just give up the ghost... That's pretty much what you're describing... BUT that doesn't mean you can't fix them. The hard part is...
  3. 2

    iFixit Tears Down the iPad 2

    Looks like I retired just in time... Glue? Really, really shoddy...
  4. 2

    Researchers Discover that Your iPhone Tracks You

    This shouldn't surprise anyone... Really... between win7's spyware and GPS chips in phones, the idea that information is stored should come as no surprise whatsoever.
  5. 2

    What MP3 player do you use?

    http://www.nycresistor.com/2009/01/20/mp3-grnade/ Just don't take it to the airport...
  6. 2

    GlideTV Internet TV Navigator Review

    Well, it doesn't have to be a netbook... but lots of people have them gathering dust in their closets... so they're a good example. Since it works over TCP you can remote control the HTPC from any computer on your home network and you don't have to be "line of sight" with the HTPC's display to...
  7. 2

    GlideTV Internet TV Navigator Review

    Interresting gadget... I'm all for anything that makes HTPC use easier... although I never did see the value in web surfing on a multimedia system, unless it's your only computer. I nearly fell over when I saw the price...One would expect much more than $50.00. I'm going to have to get...
  8. 2

    Smartphone vs Pavement

    This happened as the result of a drop? Now if you pitched it against a brick wall, repeatedly I'd expect to see that. but from a drop? Wow... no smart phones in my future.
  9. 2

    Fixing the Windows Floating Context Menu Item Problem

    Well it's not like I'm a fire starter at the keyboard (I peak at about 90 wpm, average about 70) but I never experienced this on XP with the identical hardware. I'm not the kind to have multiple keys down at the same time without good cause. I was trained to type with my hands hovering above...
  10. 2

    Fixing the Windows Floating Context Menu Item Problem

    Hey Rob... That floating image thing is actually a video driver issue. Ot at least it was for me... Just update your video drivers --with factory versions, not the MS ones-- and it should be gone. Now, if someone can please tell me how to get USB keyboards to stop dropping characters when...
  11. 2

    Is this motherboard shot?

    Ok... take a deep breath here... I offered a suggestion that I KNOW helps system stability and might actually solve this guy's problems... and he seems to be having quite a few since he built that wooden case. You are all lining up to argue mintuia with me... Ask yourself how this helps...
  12. 2

    Is this motherboard shot?

    And where does the return current go? That's right... it ALL goes through the ground system. You do understand that wire has resistance don't you? At 50 amps or more even a fraction of an ohm can result in quite a nasty voltage offset... Ohm's law, remember? Ok, do you really want me to...
  13. 2

    Is this motherboard shot?

    Ummm... are you really sure you want to have this argument with a 30 year experienced design level technologist? Any idea how many technicians I've trained in my day? Really... I don't care a rats ass if you use U, E or V as the symbol for voltage, the math is correct. Ohms law does...
  14. 2

    Windows 7 Receiving Revamped Activation Software

    Now that's a hoot, coming from a company that force feeds their clients a constant string of useless updates... (I'm not surprised he didn't follow up though... He's probably still trying to get Win7 reactivated.)
  15. 2

    Is this motherboard shot?

    The wires are a full circuit, yes. Are they the best ground your system can have... NO they are not. See my post above where I calculate the ground offsets that are possible with an ungrounded system... Like you said the lands on the board are there to keep everything at the same potential...
  16. 2

    Is this motherboard shot?

    That's not the point.... Bringing everything to a common ground voltage is not just an electrical safety thing... Not to drive this too hard but... Ever figured out how much current your motherboard draws? Ohms law tells us that Current == Power / Voltage ... I = P/E ... So...
  17. 2

    Is this motherboard shot?

    I'm sorry? You really do need to check that... The mounting lands are electrically connected to a ground plane inside the PCB, the screws connect the lands to a metal backplate that is connected to the metal case which is in turn connected to the power supply case through it's mounting...
  18. 2

    Windows 7 Receiving Revamped Activation Software

    I agree with you... they do need some kind of piracy protection... perhaps even hardware based (eg: dongles). They own it, we only pay for permission to use it... they have rights and I agree with that. But Microsoft also has something of a reputation for doing things in the worst way...
  19. 2

    Good deal on a new monitor?

    AND... Samsung's reputation. I used to place Samsung displays in my various projects... had problems with them... they're all replaced by ASUS now. Sometimes the least expensive purchase isn't the best buy...
  20. 2

    Is this motherboard shot?

    Ok... one last point, and please don't take this as anything but me trying to help... You're got that system in a wooden case, ya? Did you run ground straps from the power supply case to the motherboard and your disk cage? A suitable ground strap would be something like 16ga lamp wire...
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