Answers

Can you supply substitute components, software or peripherals instead of your listed offerings?

Answer:  Of course we can. Different case? Power supply? Motherboard? We are ready to further customize a system or peripheral/software purchase beyond our standard offerings, if plausible. We are always ready to answer your questions and take your customized order via fax, e-mail or telephone, as well as online.

If there might be a conflict with another ordered component, we'll let you know and offer alternative options, if possible. If you're ready to see what we can do for you, please contact us.

How do you support out-of-state customers – do you have any kind of on-site options?

Answer:  Our out-of-state support procedures include return of a system or individual component to us for repair or replacement at our expense during the warranty time frame of the affected component(s). An RMA request would be initiated by contacting us to issue you instructions on how to pack and ship your system/component(s) back to us. Of course lifetime technical support is always available online, by e-mail, telephone or fax for your technical questions.

Another way that we're able to provide service, if you are unable to fix a software/operating system configuration issue, and with your permission, is to remotely access your computer if you are using Windows XP. This is another convenient way that we can help you. Using an Internet connection, we can chat with you, view your screen, and with your permission, work on your computer. Access to Remote Assistance in Windows XP is reached by clicking your Start button, then selecting Help and Support, then by selecting Invite a friend to connect to your computer with Remote Assistance. Of course, this route is only an option if you are able to boot into Windows successfully and have an internet connection.

At this time, we have not contracted with particular independent service technicians to handle on-site support. If both we and the customer agree that it would be a better solution for the particular support issue to supply on-site hardware support as opposed to an RMA shipment or support via other offered means, we would be happy to make arrangements at our expense with a trusted independent technician.  See our legal mumbo-jumbo regarding our support policies for further information.

I notice on your Microsoft® Office Suite listings that some are listed as "OEM." What does this mean?

Answer:  "OEM" software means that it's a full (non-upgrade) official version of the software, sometimes with even more packaged features than that of its retail counterpart and at a much lower price. The stipulations with OEM Office software, however, are that it may only be purchased along with a qualifying hardware purchase from an official retailer and it may used only on the system it was originally purchased with.  Microsoft has recently changed their support policy to include full support for OEM versions of Office, instead of relying upon the system builder to do so.

OEM software is a great bargain if buying a new computer, and is recommended as a more affordable alternative to buying retail. All major computer builders/resellers provide OEM software.

Special Note for Microsoft Office 2007 OEM Versions*
Medialess Licensing Kit:  Your computer will be preinstalled with the 2007 Microsoft Office suite (for the OEM Basic, Small Business and Professional editions) and we will provide you with an official Microsoft Medialess Licensing Kit that will include your unique 2007 Office Suite product key.  No official Microsoft installation CD for Office will be included with your shipment, per Microsoft's new system builder licensing requirements, but installation files will be included on your Drivers & Programs Disc.  You may optionally order an official Office installation CD from Microsoft within 90 days of receiving your computer for possible minimal shipping and handling charges.

*The Medialess Licensing Kit stipulation is not applicable for the Office Home and Student 2007 suite, as it is a retail boxed version, which will be shipped with the original installation CD and product key within the retail acrylic box found in stores.

• Legal side note: Technically, no software is ever "purchased" by a customer, but, rather a license for its authorized use by the customer is purchased.

What about the operating system? Do I get one of those cheesy "hidden restore partitions" or a custom restore CD instead of an official Windows® CD/DVD?

Answer:  We include a genuine Microsoft® Windows full version CD (for XP) or DVD (for Vista) and Certificate of Authenticity with each computer purchase, unless you have elected to buy your computer without an operating system. This CD/DVD is an "OEM" version, meaning that it a full (non-upgrade) official version of the software. The stipulations with OEM operating system software, however, are that it may only be purchased along with a qualifying hardware purchase from an official retailer, it may used only on the system it was originally purchased with, and all covered technical support related to the software must be provided by the system builder.

We always ship each computer that includes an operating system with all operating system patches and upgrades pre-installed, as of the ship date of your computer.

We also provide all applicable hardware drivers for your individual computer and operating system on your own customized tastycomputers.com™ Drivers and Programs disc prepared especially for your one-of-a-kind computer.  This disc includes all necessary hardware component drivers and software patches current as of the system build date. This disc has a convenient user interface, similar to this web site, and can also guide you through a complete reinstallation routine, if desired. Most files provided on your drivers disc, and later updates, are also available for online download.  We are also currently providing a separate System Image Restoration DVD disc(s) with printed instructions in order to overwrite and restore your operating system to the state it was in at the time of your system shipment.

• Legal side note: Technically, no software is ever "purchased" by a customer, but, rather a license for its authorized use by the customer is purchased.

When do you update your prices and offerings...what I want to know is, when is a good time to check for updates on pricing and special promotions?

Answer:  Since most of our component distributors update their supply and pricing information on Tuesday afternoons or evenings, we normally update our PC bistro menu™ pricing and options by Wednesday evening.  Of course, legal holidays can put a damper on this plan, but generally, prices, offerings and special promotions are updated on our web site by 5:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) each Wednesday.

Can I purchase a system meant as a gift for someone else?

Answer:  We are happy to accept orders meant as gifts, and will ship a gift greeting of your choice, along with a packing slip with no price listed to the shipping address specified.  We will send the invoice with pricing information separately to the billing address.  There is an option to mark your order as a gift purchase when you are placing your order on our secure shopping cart system.

• We may require additional security-related information regarding your gift purchase, as required by our credit card merchant authorization service, in order to eliminate potential online purchase fraud.  We currently only accept orders originating from, and being shipped within the 50 United States of America and the District of Columbia.

Answers

Windows Explorer opens the "My Documents" folder by default. How do I change this?

Answer:  In Windows XP, the new default behavior is to open the "My Documents" folder when Windows Explorer is opened.  There also seems to be two "My Documents" folders on the left Windows Explorer folder view window.  There are not actually two "My Documents" folders, but there is an extra shortcut for it on the left side of the Explorer Window, or the "Explorer Bar."  Microsoft® assumes that most users would like to begin exploring the contents of their computers in the "My Documents" folder, as most Microsoft® programs default there when saving or opening data files that the user has created (through registry settings.)

You can change this default behavior and get it to act like it used to in Windows 98, defaulting to show the "C:" drive contents on the right side.  In order to have Windows Explorer's default view expand the "C:" drive in Windows® XP instead of the "My Documents" folder, do the following:

Instructions:

1. Right-click on the Windows Explorer shortcut icon.
    
2. Paste the following into the shortcut target, noting the spaces after exe and after both commas:
   
   %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n, /e, c:\
    
3. You may Substitute c:\ with whatever drive you want Explorer to expand upon opening if you don't want the "C:" drive expanded.

Where are the "My Computer," "Internet Explorer," and the "My Documents" icons on my desktop?

Answer:  On an unmodified clean Windows® XP installation, desktop icons are kept to a minimum for a more "clean" look. If you'd like these additional icons to appear on your desktop, do the following:

Instructions:

1. Right-click anywhere on an empty part of your desktop. The "Display Properties" settings box will appear.
    
2. Click on the "Desktop" tab at the top part of the "Display Properties" settings box.
    
3. Click on the "Customize Desktop" button at the lower left portion of the settings box. The "Desktop Items" settings box will appear.
    
4. Under the "General" tab, check the boxes in the "Desktop Icons" area for those icons that you want to appear on your desktop, then click on the "OK" button on both open settings boxes.

Sometimes when I'm browsing the internet with Internet Explorer, I get these messages that say something like there are errors on the web page and would I like to debug them. How can I stop seeing this kind of thing?

Answer:  Sometimes, there are coding errors on websites that aren't maintained properly, or for other reasons. More recent versions of Internet Explorer can recognize these errors and give the surfer the option to "debug" script errors. In most cases, only the webmaster of the website would want to do this, so you can turn off these annoying message prompts by doing the following:

Instructions:

1. Either Right-Click on the Internet Explorer icon (if it isn't currently running) and select "Properties", or (if Internet Explorer is already open) click on "Tools" on the top menu bar, then select "Internet Options..."
    
2. Click on the "Advanced" tab at the top right of the "Internet Options" settings box, then put a check mark on the "Disable script debugging" option, and uncheck the "Display a notification about every script error" option.
    
3. Click on the "OK" button, and you're set.

Where is the Windows Fax program, and how do I use it?

Answer:  In a default clean installation of Windows® XP, the Fax program is not installed, but it can be installed from your Windows® XP installation CD.  You must have a working telephone line and compatible modem with valid drivers in order to use Fax Services (non cable/DSL modems.)  Telephone modems installed by tastycomputers.com with proper drivers are compatible.

Instructions:

1. In Control Panel, click Add or Remove Programs under Pick a category to open the Add or Remove Programs dialog box.
    
2. Click Add/Remove Windows Components to start the Windows Components Wizard.
    
3. In the Components list, click to select the Fax Services check box, and then click Next. Setup installs the Fax services. If prompted, insert the Microsoft Windows XP CD, and then click OK.
    
4. On the Completing the Windows Components Wizard screen, click Finish.
    
5. In the Add or Remove Programs dialog box, click Close.

Also:

Detailed information related to configuring and using the Windows® XP Fax service can be found at the Microsoft® web site by clicking on the following links (links will open in a new browser window):

1. Please see a concise Microsoft® Knowledge Base article on installing and configuring the Windows® XP Fax service.
    
2. Please see a concise Microsoft® Knowledge Base article on sending a fax with the Windows® XP Fax service.
    
3. Please see a concise Microsoft® Knowledge Base article on receiving a fax with the Windows® XP Fax service.
    
4. Please see a concise Microsoft® Knowledge Base article on sending a scanned document with the Windows® XP Fax service.

I installed some buggy software, and now everything's screwed up. How do I get things back to the way they were before?

Answer:  Windows® XP includes a nice feature called System Restore. What it does is takes a "snapshot" of your registry settings at regular intervals, and when you install or remove programs. It does not have anything to do with your personal files created in other programs, nor can it bring back or restore corrupt personal files if you've deleted them or been hit with a destructive virus. What it can do is restore your general Windows® settings, vital system files and file associations for you to a previous point in time when a "restore point" was created. Please see a concise Microsoft® Knowledge Base article on the Windows® XP System Restore feature.  (link will open in a new browser window)

It's also a good idea to establish a regular backup routine for your system and personal files. Windows® XP comes with a basic backup utility, as well as a "Files and Settings Transfer Wizard." There are also a myriad of third party software programs that use different ways to backup your data, from hard disk "imaging" programs (our personal favorite method, although confusing for inexperienced users), to incremental backup proprietary programs, to programs similar to the Windows® XP System Restore feature. Different programs use different methods to safeguard you data, but a good idea is to save your backups on removable media, such as CD-R's, ZIP disks, tape drives, on a separate hard drive, or over a firewalled network connection. It doesn't hurt to store copies of these backups off-site in a secure location as well.

In short, backups are a must for anyone who values his or her data. Please note that if you use drive imaging programs such as Norton Ghost® or PowerQuest DriveImage®, that drives in a RAID array may not be successfully restored from a created image. Hardware (controller BIOS-created) arrays might be successfully backed up and restored, but software (OS software-managed) arrays will likely fail to be successfully backed up or restored. The most recent versions of Norton Ghost® claims no compatibility with RAID arrays, and the most recent version of PowerQuest DriveImage® claims compatibility with hardware-based arrays only.

I have some old software programs that I love, but I don't thinks Windows® XP/Vista will run them. What are my options?

Answer:  Well...you know that XP does have a built-in Compatibility-Mode function that can often allow you to install and use older software written for an earlier operating system.  Most programs run properly on Windows® XP. The exceptions are some older games and other programs that were written specifically for an earlier version of Windows. To run your program on Windows® XP, try the following:

Instructions:

1. Run the Program Compatibility Wizard.  As an alternative, you can set the compatibility properties manually. (These options are covered in detail below.)
    
2. Update your program, drivers, or hardware. (This option is covered in detail below.)

The Program Compatibility Wizard

This wizard prompts you to test your program in different modes (environments) and with various settings. For example, if the program was originally designed to run on Windows 95, set the compatibility mode to Windows 95 and try running your program again. If successful, the program will start in that mode each time. The wizard also allows you to try different settings, such as switching the display to 256 colors and the screen resolution to 640 x 480 pixels.

If compatibility problems prevent you from installing a program on Windows XP, run the Program Compatibility Wizard on the setup file for the program. The file may be called Setup.exe or something similar, and is probably located on the Installation disc for the program.

To run the Program Compatibility Wizard, click Start, click Help and Support, click Find compatible hardware and software for Windows XP, and then, under See Also in the navigation pane, click Program Compatibility Wizard.

Set the compatibility properties manually

As an alternative to running the Program Compatibility Wizard, you can set the compatibility properties for a program manually. The settings are the same as the options in the Program Compatibility Wizard.  To set the compatibility properties manually, right-click the program icon on your desktop or the shortcut on the Start menu for the program you want to run, and then click Properties.  Click the Compatibility tab, and change the compatibility settings for your program.  For more information about an option on the Compatibility tab, right-click the option and then click What's This.

Please Note: The Compatibility tab is only available for programs installed on your hard drive. Although you can run the Program Compatibility Wizard on programs or setup files on a CD-ROM or floppy disk, your changes will not remain in effect after you close the program.

Update your program or drivers

If your program does not run correctly after testing it with the Program Compatibility Wizard, check the Web for updates or other fixes:

1. Check the Web site of the program's manufacturer to see if an update or patch is available.
    
2. Check Windows Update to see if a fix is available for the program. Click Home on the menu bar of Help and Support Center, then click Windows Update in the right pane.
    
3. If the program is a game that uses DirectX®, ensure that you are using the latest version of DirectX®.  In addition, check the Web site of the manufacturer of your video card or sound card to see if newer drivers are available for either of them.

Is there a way that someone can access my computer over the internet to help me?

Answer:  Another way that we're able to (or another trusted friend is able to) provide service, if you are unable to fix a software/operating system configuration issue, is to remotely access your computer if you are using Windows XP. Using an Internet connection, we can chat with you, view your screen, and with your permission, work on your computer. Access to Remote Assistance in Windows XP is reached by:

Instructions:

1. clicking your Start button
    
2. selecting Help and Support
    
3. selecting "Invite a friend to connect to your computer with Remote Assistance."

Of course, this route is only an option if you are able to boot into Windows successfully and have an internet connection.

further information regarding Remote Assistance (link will open in a new browser window)

I'm the only user of my Windows XP computer, and don't want the Logon Welcome Screen to display when booting up. How to I get my computer to boot directly to the desktop without the Welcome Screen?

Answer:  If you are not using your computer as a secure server in a networked environment, please click here for instructions.

How do I do a Windows XP® "Repair Installation"?

Answer:  Please click here for detailed instructions in using Windows XP®'s Repair function.

If the Repair Installation won't work, how do I perform a "Recovery Console" salvage mission in Windows XP®?

Answer:  Detailed instructions on how to do so are available here (will open in a new browser window at the digitalwebcast.com web site) for detailed instructions in using Windows XP®'s Recovery Console.

My computer has Windows® XP with Service Pack 1a or 2, and I am having problems playing online games, such as those at pogo.com or Yahoo® Games. What is wrong?

Answer:  There is a solution available that has worked in some recent Windows® XP configurations.  This may not work for your particular Windows® XP installation, but is provided by tastycomputers.com™ for your convenience as a possible fix for issues related to unsatisfactory performance with online gaming sites that use Java® technology. We strongly suggest that you create a system restore point by open up the System Restore applet and selecting the "create a restore point" option. Tastycomputers.com™ is not responsible for any negative side effects caused either directly or indirectly by your use of this solution using third party software.

Due to recent legal settlements between Microsoft® and Sun Microsytems®, Windows® XP with Service Pack 1a or later versions no longer include the Java Virtual Machine™.  With some java®-enabled gaming sites, such as pogo.com or Yahoo Games, if you have the latest version of Windows® XP (SP1-a) without Java Virtual Machine™, you have to first install an older version of Microsoft's® Virtual Machine (no longer offered on the Microsoft web site) and then update it .. build 3805 to build 3810. If you just install the latest version without the older version installed, your game sites will probably not work properly.

Instructions:

1. If you already have MS Java Virtual Machine installed on your system, uninstall it:
    
   1. Download the following file: msjvm_uninstaller.exe (338 KB).
       
   2. Run the downloaded program. It will create a folder named msjvm_uninstaller on your desktop (assuming your Windows XP installation is on drive "C".  If not, alter the default extraction location path that you will see with your correct drive letter.)
       
   3. Stop all running programs, expecially any antivirus scanning background utilities.
       
   4. Open up the msjvm_uninstaller folder that has been created on your desktop and run the unmsjvm.exe file inside that folder, following any onscreen instructions.
       
2. Download the following file: msjvm.exe (10,108 KB).
    
3. Run the downloaded program. It will create a folder named msjvm with two subfolders within it named jvm5003805 and jvm5003810 on your desktop (assuming your Windows XP installation is on drive "C".  If not, alter the default extraction location path that you will see with your correct drive letter.)
    
4. Stop all running programs, expecially any antivirus scanning background utilities.
    
5. Open up the msjvm folder that has been created on your desktop.
    
6. Open the jvm5003805 folder and install the older msjava version 5.00.3805, which is the msjavx86.exe file.
    
7. Open the jvm5003810 folder and install the version 5.00.3810 update, which is the MSJavWU_8073687b82d41db93f4c2a04af2b34d.exe file.

Pogo.com Notes: Pogo.com is an ad generated site that "requires" doubleclick and several other tracking servers. When doubleclick and the others are blocked you can not access the games on that site.

Related Help Sites:

• Microsoft®: http://support.microsoft.com
• Sun Microsystems®: http://java.sun.com
• pogo.com: http://games.custhelp.com
• Yahoo® Games: http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/games/

How do I stop a program that automatically starts with Windows from starting up?

Answer:  Before altering the way your computer starts up, we strongly suggest that you first create a system restore point by open up the System Restore applet and selecting the "create a restore point" option. Tastycomputers.com™ is not responsible for any negative side effects caused either directly or indirectly by your use of this solution using third party software.

Windows XP/Vista has "dumbed down" some of the configurable options that could potentially cause problems, which is a good protection safeguard for newbies, but somewhat a pain in the @$$ for more experienced users!

First, the best way to disable startup programs from running is to open the applicable software program itself and see if it will allow you to configure its startup options for its components directly. In a perfect world, the software designers have allowed these options, but in the real world, as we all know from experience, this is not always the case.

If not, you can run the System Configuration Utility:

1. If the software in question doesn't allow you to configure which of its modules startup automatically by default, you can use msconfig, or System Configuration Utility, which you have attempted, by clicking on the Start button, then selecting Run, then typing in msconfig in the dialog box.
    
2. When the msconfig program brings up the System Configuration Utility screen, go to the Startup tab.
    
3. Uncheck items that you don't want to load automatically from the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run registry key.
    
4. Click the Apply button at the bottom.
    
5. Click the Close button. You'll see the popup dialog box message: "You must restart your computer for some of the changes made by System Configuration to take effect." Click the Restart button.
    
6. After your system has rebooted, you'll see a prompt box that looks something like this:
   
   The checkbox in this prompt box that says "Don't show this message or launch the System Configuration Utility when Windows starts" is poorly written, but if you do click to put a check in this checkbox, the program you previously disabled from automatically running will not run, and you won't receive this nag box the next time you startup or reboot.
    
7. If you want to enable the particular program to autorun again in the future, just go back into the msconfig utility as directed above, recheck the program's box again, and reboot.

What is the Windows Vista™ Anytime Upgrade offer all about?

Answer:  This Anytime Upgrade feature found in Windows Vista will enable you to purchase a higher version of Vista online immediately from within Windows Vista itself. Windows Anytime Upgrade automatically takes you to the website where you can purchase the upgrade key. After purchasing the upgrade key, you're instructed to download software that prepares your computer for the upgrade. The software takes a few minutes to download.  All editions of Windows Vista are included on the physical Windows Vista installation DVD disc that you will receive. The software that you download after you purchase the upgrade includes a new product key. This new product key will allow you to upgrade to a higher version from the installation disc that you already have.  You can use Windows Anytime Upgrade only on a computer that's already running Windows Vista. You can’t use Windows Anytime Upgrade to upgrade a computer that's running an earlier version of Windows.

Prices to upgrade to more premium editions of Windows Vista using Anytime Upgrade are as follows:

1. from Home Basic to Home Premium:  $79
2. from Home Basic to Ultimate:  $199
3. from Home Premium to Ultimate:  $159
4. from Business to Ultimate:  $139

Instructions for using Windows Anytime Upgrade:

1. While running your current version of Vista, open Windows Anytime Upgrade by clicking the Start button > clicking Control Panel > clicking System and Maintenance > then clicking Windows Anytime Upgrade.
2. Follow the instructions on each page.  When the upgrade is complete, you will have a new Ultimate edition of Windows Vista running on your computer.

Answers

What is RAID, and is it a good choice for me?

Answer:  Please click here for our take on RAID arrays.

I have had my system for several months and notice that my CPU temperatures have been getting higher, particularly when performing a processor/memory-intensive application such as video encoding or extreme game play.  Why is this, and what can I do to fix it?

Answer:  Some scheduled maintenance will ensure that your temperatures stay at optimal levels, particularly if your computer is located in an area where dust, fibers, pet hair and grease can make their way inside your case. Over time, the heatsink over the processor can accumulate a lot of dust in its fins, as can the front case air filter. You'd be surprised at how much the hidden dust in the heatsink fins can affect the temperature...adding 10 to up to 30 degrees over what everything would be running at after cleaned up, if you have a lot of dust. If you perform the steps below every 3-4 months, you'll ensure that everything continues to run smoothly.

Instructions:

1. The first thing you should do would be to have the computer running with the applicable side of the case off, to verify that the CPU fan and rear case fan(s) are running.  If a fan isn't running, contact us immediately to correct the situation.
    
2. If the fans are running properly, power off the system, then unplug it from electrical outlet, and move the case to somewhere where you won't mind some dust bunnies flying around.
    
3. While you're doing all this, it's a good idea to either wear a grounded wrist strap available at any computer/electronics supply store, or regularly touch something metal that's plugged into a grounded outlet, just to make sure you don't have any static electricity buildup.
    
4. Get a can of compressed air like 3M® Dust Remover or something similar and blow short sharp bursts of air onto the heatsink's fins to get rid of the dust.
    
   • Important:  You should never shake the compressed air container, and you should keep the air nozzle approximately 2 inches away from the component you are cleaning.
      
5. A few bursts around the graphics card's fan, if it has one, would be a good idea too.
    
6. You should also take out any air filter from the front of the case occasionally (with some computer cases) and clean it under running water (then thoroughly dry) or with a vacuum away from your computer.
    
7. When you're finished, take a paper towel moistened with alcohol, Endust® for Electronics, or another similar cleaning solution/pre-moistened wipe with no oil or wax, and wipe any loose dust up from the inside of the case.
    
   • Important:  Never use a vacuum to clean your computer, as it may cause electro-static discharge damage to some or all sensitive components.
      
8. You should now reinstall your case panel and return your PC to its original location and reattach all power/peripheral cords and power it up.  Your computer's cooling components should be running much more efficiently after cleaning.  Please contact us if you continue to see problems with keeping your system cool.

Remember that your computer should be housed in an area that allows sufficient air circulation all around the case.  Today's air-cooled high-performance computer components create a lot of heat and need enough air circulation to dissipate that heat.  Your computer has been assembled with maximum airflow considerations, and is designed to cool most efficiently with all case panels attached and located in an open surrounding to promote sufficient airflow.

I have 4 GB of memory installed in my system.  Why does Windows report that I only have 3.5 GB (or less) installed?

Answer:  In 4 GB+ memory configurations, under 32-bit PC architecture memory addressing, there is a memory area just below 4 GB (approximately 520 MB) which is reserved permanently. The reserved area is for system BIOS to put APIC, ACPI Table, PCI Device resources and AGP aperture information.

When your system RAM is 3.5 GB or lower, the system will generally show that the same amount of memory has been implemented. However, if the system RAM is above 3.5 GB (technically 3,576 MB) of memory, the actual amount of memory that the system shows will be less due to the reserved area. You may notice that a dual Sli™ graphics card system setup or ATI Crossfire™ setup will report even less available memory (around 2.7 GB) as the PCI-Express graphics bus subsystem reserves extra interface memory addresses to enable dual graphics card operation.  Regardless of memory size, the reserved memory addressing is always present, but only when the DRAM rises above the 3,576 MB amount will that area become visible. This means that any machine with 4 GB or more of physical memory has some of its physical memory "overlaid" by the PCI address space.

The PCI memory hole exists below 4 GB to ensure that all 32-bit software can reach those addresses. The size of the PCI hole is the total amount of PCI/AGP address space consumed for all devices as configured by the BIOS. The size of the hole will depend on several factors such as the amount of video memory, size of the AGP Aperture, and the number of PCI devices. Note: This is not a particular motherboard or tastycomputer™ system-specific issue and is generic to any x86 (non-64-bit) platform which can support large memory (4 GB or greater) footprints.  Your memory is being used...it just may not appear that all of it is in use via the Windows interface.

• Important:  In order to take advantage of more than 4 GB memory installed in your computer, you must be using the optional 64-bit applicable operating system version (ordered separately elsewhere or configured during original system purchase.)  Currently, 64-bit operating system versions of Windows XP PRO/2003/Vista are not in wide use, as they have much less native driver/software support, and should only be considered by advanced computer users not daunted by potential troubleshooting/configuration steps and potential hardware/software incompatibilities.
   
• Current Advice:  2 GB of total system memory tends to be the "sweet spot", price/performance/stability-wise in most 32-bit mainstream computer configurations.  XP is happy with 1 GB, while Vista generally operates more smoothly with 2 GB.

Should I update drivers on a regular basis when new versions are released?

Answer:  Our philosophy has always been "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Unless you're currently having a specific problem that you know will be addressed by a specific fix listed in the driver update information, skip it, particularly when it comes to BIOS flashing, as well as with basic universal underlying system drivers such as the chipset drivers, hard disk controller drivers, graphics and sound. Of course, if you're ever planning on wiping out your hard drive and starting from scratch with a new operating system installation, having the most recent versions of available component drivers ready to go for the clean installation isn't a bad idea.

A good idea, in any case, is to have a reliable way of returning to your previous configuration in the event that a driver update causes problems. A known good drive image made with software you're comfortable working with, such as Acronis TrueImage® or Norton Ghost®, affords the luxury of making you a bit more bold when taking chances with driver or software updates.

The single most common type of driver update that causes the largest amount of "issues" is undoubtedly the graphics drivers. The fact is that both ATI and NVIDIA, whose card chips most users have installed, need to do a better job of configuring their driver update programs to completely uninstall the previous versions prior to updating. Also, since other installed hardware devices and many currently-installed software programs, including the operating system, are greatly dependent upon these graphics drivers to build upon, just one updated file or registry setting made by the driver update installation routine can wreak havoc elsewhere.

Since not all software coders are created equally, you never know if a particular update is going to interact bizarrely with a particular file or setting in the current configuration...there are just too many variables, regarding a particular hardware/software configuration that a unique computer system may have currently installed, to be efficiently tested by coders in all situations.

Answers

How do I access the BIOS settings of my computer?

Answer:  With the GigaByte® and DFI® motherboards, you'll need to press the Delete key on your keyboard immediately during the initial POST (Power On Self-Test) screen display when starting or rebooting your PC. Watch for the post screen carefully, as today's high-speed computers might show it for only a second.

After you are in the main BIOS menu, your mouse will not function and you will have to navigate using your keyboard.  With Gigabyte® motherboards, in order to see all available advanced BIOS settings, you must press the Ctrl+F1 keys simultaneously after you are at the main BIOS menu.  Be sure you know what you are doing before altering any settings in BIOS, as the wrong change to a setting might make your PC inoperable; please refer to your motherboard manual for further detailed instructions regarding changing BIOS settings.

For instructions on how to update or backup your motherboard's BIOS, click on your system model's name from the main downloads page, then select your system's motherboard's BIOS link for further instructions and the latest BIOS downloadable version.

After making any changes, press the F10 key to save your settings and exit BIOS.  Your computer should then restart.

I've been tinkering with my computer's BIOS settings and now I'm having problems.  How do I restore my BIOS to how it was configured when my system shipped?

Answer:  Some Gigabyte® motherboards have the added convenience and safety of dual BIOS chips (non-Tapa/Cafecito series systems.)  The easiest way to restore all of your BIOS settings would be to go into the Dual BIOS/Q-Flash function once you're at your main BIOS screen and copy the backup BIOS to the main BIOS.  Since we always optimize then copy the main BIOS to the backup BIOS before shipping out systems, there's always the backup BIOS settings there for you to restore to the main BIOS as the system was shipped.

Instructions:

1. With the GigaByte® motherboards, you'll need to press the Delete key on your keyboard immediately during the initial POST (Power On Self-Test) screen display when starting or rebooting your PC. Watch for the post screen carefully, as today's high-speed computers might show it for only a second.
    
2. Once you have reached the main BIOS menu screen, press the F8 key to access the Q-Flash functions menu.  When you're at the Dual BIOS Utility menu screen, you can select to Boot from the backup BIOS instead of the main BIOS, then select F10 to save and power off.
    
3. The next time you power up, go back into the BIOS screen by pressing the Delete key, then F8 to get back into the Q-Flash Dual BIOS Utility screen. This time, since you've booted from the backup BIOS, there will be a choice to Copy Backup ROM Data to Main. You can do this to load all the backup BIOS settings back to your main BIOS, then you can choose to boot from the main BIOS again, then select F10 to save and power off.

Of course, if you happened to copy the main BIOS to the backup BIOS right after tinkering with your BIOS settings, that backup BIOS would no longer be valid, but otherwise, this is the easiest way to get all your settings back. If you ever make any permanent changes to your main BIOS that work for you, you can then copy your main BIOS to the backup BIOS with the Q-Flash Dual BIOS Utility after you're sure that your new settings don't cause any problems, so you'll always have that backup BIOS set the way you like it, just in case you need to restore your BIOS settings in the future.  Please contact us if you need additional assistance in restoring or making changes to your BIOS settings.

Answers

How can I “reuse” the Microsoft® Office that I have presently installed on another system?

Answer:  If your current Microsoft® Office is the XP, 2003, 2007 version or later, you would be required to activate it on your new system, meaning that it should be uninstalled from your previous computer first, for licensing compliance, then re-activated on your new computer.  This is only applicable for non-OEM retail full/upgrade versions.  If your previous version of Office is an OEM version supplied with a previous computer purchase, its license for use is tied to the original computer only.

Before you activate Office, you may run it for a limited amount of time. Microsoft® Office will go into Reduced Functionality Mode when this grace period expires, which is on the 50th launch of the Office software. In Reduced Functionality Mode, you will not be able to save modifications to documents or create a new document, and additional functionality may be reduced.  No existing Office files or documents will be harmed, and you can easily get Office out of this mode by following the instructions outlined in the screens presented.

The Activation Wizard will likely recognize that you have installed the software on a different system from the one previously activated, and will instruct you to use the Microsoft® toll-free activation telephone number to speak to a representative. You would then call and tell them that you have uninstalled Office on your old system and have transferred its use to a new system, and they will give you an alpha-numeric activation key to use in order to activate the software on your new computer.

If your version of Office is not the XP or later version, you don't have to deal with activation, but licensing laws still require you to only have the software installed on one system at a time.

Have you noticed slower overall sending/receiving performance with your MAPI/SMTP-based Mail Solution using Microsoft Outlook®?

Answer:  If it takes several seconds to view an e-mail message or to display the next e-mail message, disable Messenger integration in Outlook XP or 2003.

Instructions:

1. Start Outlook.
    
2. Under the Tools menu, select -> Options.
    
3. Select the Other Tab.
    
4. Uncheck "Enable Instant Messaging in Microsoft Outlook" if you are using Outlook 2002 (XP), or uncheck "Enable the Person Names Smart Tag" if you are using Outlook 2003.
    
5. Click Apply, then OK.
    
6. Restart Outlook.

Answers

I am limited in the size of a file(s) that I would like to be able to send or receive via e-mail. Are there free online services that can send/receive files large in size (up to 1 GB)?

Answer:  Trying to attach those big files to e-mail messages is challenging; the attachment limit for most internet service providers is 10 MB or less.  There are some great free online services that will let you send and receive single files up to 1 GB in size.  They're easy to use, with no plug-ins or software to install.  (Caveat: You should have a fast broadband connection; dial-up internet connections will take forever.) The links below will open in a new browser window:

• YouSendIt is a great site where you can choose anyone with an e-mail address to receive a large file up to 1 GB!.  You can specify multiple e-mail addresses separated by commas. Your file will be stored by YouSendIt without ever filling up your recipient's mailbox. YouSendIt will automatically e-mail your recipient a link to your file stored on the YouSendIt server. Files are removed from the system after 7 days, regardless if they have been picked up or not.
   
• Dropload is a place for you to drop your files off and have them picked up by someone else at a later time. Recipients you specify are sent an e-mail with instructions on how to download the file. Files are removed from the system after 7 days, regardless if they have been picked up or not. You can upload any type of file up to 100 MB, and recipients can be anyone with an e-mail address.
  • Dropload's servers are secure, but your files will be uploading unencrypted. If you are uploading sensitive information, you should encrypt it before uploading.
  • If you choose to enable virus scanning in your Dropload settings, every file that you send or receive will be scanned for viruses when they arrive at our server. It is advised that you enable this feature if you run windows or are in some other way high risk. Files that are flagged as possible viruses are not deleted, the sender and recipient is warned that the file may be a virus and they should proceed with caution. The virus definitions are updated in real time providing up to date protection. This is a free service, it is also not a replacement for virus scanners on your computer and comes with no guarantee that every file delivered is 100% virus free.

Both of these services allow only single files to be sent. If you have more than one file, just zip them into an archive file with any one of a bunch of free compression utilities downloadable from PC World® or with Windows XP's included compressed file function. In Windows XP, create a folder and copy the files into the folder. Then right click on the folder and go to "Send To" and select "Compressed (zipped) Folder". This will compress the files and the folder into a smaller single file, allowing you to upload that in place of several individual files.  If you share compressed folders with users on other computer systems, you may want to limit the compressed folder names to eight characters with a .zip file name extension.