Computer SOS!

[vogina]

if i replace my graphics card, i wont lose anything right? like i can change it and my computer will just be like, oh nothing happened. or will it mess everything up?

As long as it has compatible drivers with your OS i can't imagine you'll have any issues. If the monitor doesn't display you'll know you have an issue, but i don't know why it would affect anything else.

True. But remember to buy something that, like Drinkey said, is compatible to your OS driver (or the ones you will need to install) and also compatible with your MOBO. Even more so, a graphics card is probably one of the easiest things to replace in a computer. However... Too many times does someone go out and buy a kick ass graphics card that exceeds their replaced relic only to be disappointed in actual use. Why? Because most of the time the monitor you have is old, the MOBO won't support the most current features the graphics card comes with (Direct X 11, HD, etc etc), and even your OS might not be the latest in the batch of Windows or MAC OS.

So, just head on over to a Fry's or a Microcenter if you are lucky, and ask someone. OR the best and easiest bet is to look up your computer specs, find out what MOBO (mother board) you have, and see what is compatible. Chances are if it is an older system, there is plenty information out there.

[H_is_O]

Thank you!

[RotationSlimWang]

How old is the computer and is it a slimline model? If it was made in the last three years and it's a full size desktop, all you need to do is buy any PCI-Express video card and plug it in, run the driver disk, and you're done.

[H_is_O]

its a macbook from 2007, and i really want to play star craft II but my graphics card is not awesome enough

[RotationSlimWang]

Oh then nevermind, you can't replace shit and don't attempt it. If you want to try to upgrade the graphics card take it into an Apple store and see what they say. Odds are you're fucked. You can't just upgrade video components in laptops like that unless there's a higher-end card specifically made for your model of Mac since Apple goes out of their way to try to make it impossible to upgrade your Mac yourself.

[H_is_O]

10.4 thanks dude

[RotationSlimWang]

Do you mean your graphics card isn't awesome enough in that it doesn't meet the minimum requirements of the game or just that it doesn't handle running the game well?

[Mr. Dylanja]

Any excel-formula experts out there?

[PlayaDelWes]

Any excel-formula experts out there?

Go.

[dorkfish]

Anyone ever re-solder a broken USB plug back to a thumb drive's board? Google tells me that it's both "easy, just strip some wires" and "impossible, you'll destroy pads and render it useless."

[locachica73]

At some point in the middle of the day yesterday our company iPhones stopped receiving emails. It has something to do with the wifi connection, as soon as we turn wifi off the emails came through. Our IT company has one guy who has ran into this problem before but he is on vacation for a week. Has anyone else ran into this? Is there an easy fix that I can wow my bosses with?

[gaypalmsprings]

You won't wow your bosses with your grammar.

[locachica73]

You haven't met my bosses.

[gaypalmsprings]

Ha. Good one!

[RotationSlimWang]

At some point in the middle of the day yesterday our company iPhones stopped receiving emails. It has something to do with the wifi connection, as soon as we turn wifi off the emails came through. Our IT company has one guy who has ran into this problem before but he is on vacation for a week. Has anyone else ran into this? Is there an easy fix that I can wow my bosses with?

The wireless router is blocking the ports your iPhones are configured to use. This is pretty common with sending emails but not so much with receiving, are you having the issues with both sending and receiving or just sending? By default, the port most email accounts try to send over is port 25 with a lot of IT companies/high-end routers block by default to reduce spam. If you're getting the issue both sending and receiving, something is very weird with your IT company. Loca, can you go into the Settings for your mail account and go into both the Incoming Server settings and Outgoing Server settings and find out what port each is set to use? You will probably have to hit a button for Show Advanced Settings or something on your iPhone in order to get it to display this info. If you have trouble getting to the right screens, just google "what port is my iphone email server setting" or something like that.

If you find that it's set to port 25, try using 587 instead. If you're getting the issue with incoming mail too this might be trickier. Oh, also let me know whether or not Incoming and Outgoing have encryption enabled (they'll either have None, SSL, TLS, or Auto).

[RotationSlimWang]

Anyone ever re-solder a broken USB plug back to a thumb drive's board? Google tells me that it's both "easy, just strip some wires" and "impossible, you'll destroy pads and render it useless."

I hate doing board repairs myself so I'd take it in to any place that does laptop repairs and just offer them 20 bucks to do it for you personally. It'll take them like a minute.

[locachica73]

I am super stoned right now but I will check that tomorrow. They had just swapped out our firewall last week, we recieved emails all weekend then tuesday at 1 pm they stopped. Not sure if we were able to send, but I will check tomorrow when I get to work also.

Thanks Randy.

[RotationSlimWang]

The fact that only one person at your IT provider apparently knows what to look for when confronted with this problem is fucking insane. This is like email 101 if you're a network tech.

[locachica73]

So far I don't have much faith in the company at all. I am being pushed to fire them and shop for another. I seriously hate this shit.

[RotationSlimWang]

Seriously, if they can't figure that out you should absolutely fire them. Like, I'm not being dramatic--if there's only one person in that company who understands why email would send differently through their firewall than through a cell connection they have no idea what the fuck they're doing. If I knew anyone out in Phoenix I'd try to get you a recommendation but I ain't got a clue.

[malcolmjamalawesome]

IS WARIO GAY

[locachica73]

I know I need to, but I just went through this, my boss went for the cheaper company and now I have to do it again. It's one of the reasons I wanted to stab people all day.

[RotationSlimWang]

IS WARIO GAY

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-li...tefon/1402551/

[locachica73]

The wireless router is blocking the ports your iPhones are configured to use. This is pretty common with sending emails but not so much with receiving, are you having the issues with both sending and receiving or just sending? By default, the port most email accounts try to send over is port 25 with a lot of IT companies/high-end routers block by default to reduce spam. If you're getting the issue both sending and receiving, something is very weird with your IT company. Loca, can you go into the Settings for your mail account and go into both the Incoming Server settings and Outgoing Server settings and find out what port each is set to use? You will probably have to hit a button for Show Advanced Settings or something on your iPhone in order to get it to display this info. If you have trouble getting to the right screens, just google "what port is my iphone email server setting" or something like that.

If you find that it's set to port 25, try using 587 instead. If you're getting the issue with incoming mail too this might be trickier. Oh, also let me know whether or not Incoming and Outgoing have encryption enabled (they'll either have None, SSL, TLS, or Auto).

Randy, I can't send while on the wifi either. I tried to find what you were talking about under settings, no luck. This is a little beyond my basic computer knowledge. But thanks for trying to help.

[RotationSlimWang]

That's why I said google it. Here, this is the screen you need to get to, the advanced SMTP settings: http://www.apple.com/support/iphone/...ail/#section_4

[locachica73]

I did google and it wasn't helpful, it was just a bunch of techs answering other dumbasses in some tech language I didn't understand. When I follow the directions on the link you provided it gets me to accounts, which my choices are exchange & add account, I go to exchange and then it doesn't seem to follow along with the directions, it doesn't give me an option for advanced settings either, it just lists my email, server, domain, username, password, then has Use SSL which is on, and S/MIME which is off (none of which make sense to me). I still get email as long as I don't turn on my wifi at work, so it's not that big of a deal, but I appreciate the help.

[Sexecutioner]

That's why I said google it. Here, this is the screen you need to get to, the advanced SMTP settings: http://www.apple.com/support/iphone/...ail/#section_4

You are assuming she is using a pop account. This is a company phone so there is a good chance this is an exchange account. If so, it's more likely a DNS or routing issue that prevents the wifi network from communicating with their exchange server.

[RotationSlimWang]

Pop or Imap, yes, I did assume. For some reason it seemed doubtful to me that Audra worked for a company professional enough to have an Exchange server. If they're accessing it over 3G but not their own wifi, my suspicion is it's hosted Exchange which means you're still dealing with port issues.

Audra, what's it say in the Server field?

[locachica73]

Pop or Imap, yes, I did assume. For some reason it seemed doubtful to me that Audra worked for a company professional enough to have an Exchange server. If they're accessing it over 3G but not their own wifi, my suspicion is it's hosted Exchange which means you're still dealing with port issues.

Audra, what's it say in the Server field?

mail.mycompanyname.com

[RotationSlimWang]

I think I could probably fix your issue if you let me remote into a machine connected to the WiFi at your office, depending on whether or not the IT company gave you the login credentials to the firewall assuming they changed it from the default username and password. It would be username: admin and some password. Or if you can tell me the brand and model of the firewall it'll give me an idea how likely it is that they changed it.

Also, PM me what it actually says instead of mycompanyname and I'll run some tests on what ports are supposed to be open