Q&A: Please help me identify & remove bloatware from my HP Dv6700 Vista laptop?
Question by what: Please help me identify & remove bloatware from my HP Dv6700 Vista laptop?
Do I need these for the computer to function properly? Please tell me what are they and what do they do? (I use my laptop mainly for internet, video editing, downloading/uploading, photos DLg/saving, documents Dlg/typing, watching DVDs, burning DVDs, music & playing hearts. That's all I can think of)
Motorola SM56 data fax & modem (I use wireless. when that is down I have used the phone, rarely)
QuickPlay SlingPlayer 0.4.4 (is this the same as HP QuickPlay DVD player? I have removed SlingBox and the tour but this remains)
AIM 6
EA Link
HP Customer Experience Enhancements
HP Easy set up Frontend
HP help and Suppport
HP Photosmart Essential 2.5 <--do I need this for the Gallery to work?
HP QuickTouch 1.00 C4
Intel Matrix Storage Manager
MSCU for Microsoft Vista
LiveUpdate (Symantec Corp)
Synapstics Pointing Device Driver
There's more but let's start with these please. Thank you for your input. Please kind remember to tell me what they do along with your removal/keep recommendation. Thanks.
Best answer:
Answer by Reedo
keep your modem driver, your pointing device driver, intel matrix and get rid of the rest, unless you use them obviously.
Add your own answer in the comments!
Q&A: Can I use this powerline adapter to connect a computer to the internet?
Question by : Can I use this powerline adapter to connect a computer to the internet?
We had one of these connected to our router by Dish Network. I've read about powerline networking. I found the same powerline adapter on Amazon. I was wondering if I can use it to connect a desktop which is a floor above our wireless router. The computer doesn't get a good connection and Ethernet connection would be messy. I've only seen people use this particular adapter with a SlingBox, but I want to know if it's can be used for web browsing and PC gaming.
Product link: http://www.amazon.com/Sling-Media-SlingLink-TURBO-SL300-100/dp/B001Z5140O/ref=sr_1_3?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285294869&sr=8-3
Best answer:
Answer by Geff L
Should work.
What do you think? Answer below!
Q&A: Homenetworking Expert? – AP, Router, Switch, or a Combination?
Question by dyp: Homenetworking Expert? - AP, Router, Switch, or a Combination?
Need help on how I can install my homenetwork to meet my requirements listed below:
Here are the knowns:;
1. 2 story house with a basement.
2. Cable modem comes into a closet in the basement.
3. All rooms have Cat5 and cable running that terminate in the same closet as the cable modem.
I want to achieve the following:
1. 2 PCs, NAS and a network printer in the 1st floor den that need to be hardwired into the network.
2. Also have 2 Tivos and 2 notebook computers that connect wirelessly so need to have a wireless access point in a central area, ideally the 1st floor.
3. Have a Slingbox on the 1st floor family room which require a hardwire connection to the network.
Most importantly, I want all the devices on a single network so they could all see each other.
I am confused between a switch, router and access point and what combination I should install them to achieve a single network with both wireless and hardwired connections.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Best answer:
Answer by jsleno
Just as a caveat, nowadays the most common and most inexpensive devices are Switch/Router/Firewall/AP boxes, with everything built-in. To buy everything separately would be pretty expensive. I would first try and find a way to do what you need using only one box, possibly an 8-port Router combo.
Anyway, In the basement, you'll need a Firewall/Router where your Cable Modem is. You will also need a network switch with as many ports as you have Cat5 cables coming in.
Most of your hard-wired devices are on the 1st floor, which is also the central point in your house, so they all get wired in there.You would also need a Wireless Access Point on the 1st floor, which would get your Tivos and Notebooks online. The AP, and all wired devices would be Cat5'ed into the switch in the basement, so they would all be on the same network.
So, in all you would need three different devices, 2 in the basement, 1 on the first floor, to do what you need done.
There are other approaches you can take too, like getting an all-in-one router for the basement, and extend the wireless antenna to the 1st floor, but again, that's more money.
I would suggest that you try wiring everything into the basement into a single all-in-one Router/AP first. That'll take care of the wired devices. If the wireless devices have trouble, you can always get things to boost, or move the antenna signal upstairs.
What do you think? Answer below!
New Laptop with a lot of junk already. What to do?
Question by blah: New Laptop with a lot of junk already. What to do?
So I just got my new HP Laptop and I see this on the add/remove program:
Activation Assistant for the 2007 Microsoft Office suites
Adobe Flash Player ActiveX
Adobe Reader 8.1.0
AIM 6
Broadcom 802.11 Wirelass LAN Adapter
Compatibility Pack for the 2007 Office System
Conexant HD Audio
CyberLink YouCam
DVD Suite
EA Link
Hauppauge MCE XP/Vista Software Encoder (2.0.25149)
HDAUDIO Soft Data Fax Modem with SmartCP
HP Active Support Library
HP Customer Experience Enhancements
HP Easy Setup - Frontend
HP Help and Support
HP Photosmart Essential 2.5
HP Quick Launch Buttons 6.30 E1
HP QuickpPlay 3.6
HP QuickTouch 1.00 C3
HP Smart Web Printing
HP Update
HP Wireless Assistant
Java(TM) 6 Update 2
LabelPrint
LiveUpdate (Symantec Corporation)
Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007
Microsoft Office Powerpoint Viewer 2007
Microsoft Works
muvee autoProducer 6.1
My HP Games
NetWaiting
Norton Internet Security (Symantec Corporation)
NVIDIA Drivers
Power2Go
PowerDirector
QuickPlay SlingPlayer 0.4.6
RICOH R5C83x/84x Flash Media Controller Driver Ver.3.52.02
Slingbox Flash Tour
SlingPlayer
The Sims Life Stories
Touch Pad Driver
Viewpoint Media Player
Yahoo! Toolbar
Is there something I should uninstall immediately?
All in all, these programs are not as bad as my old laptops which had a ton of unnecessary junk.
In addition to just looking at these programs, is there anything I should clean up or check to optimize my laptop's performance?
Best answer:
Answer by JL
Remove the ones you don't need. Some are useful, like Office and those hardware installs, but the rest is bloatware.
http://www.blackviper.com/
Use this as a guide to tweaking your new computer.
Add your own answer in the comments!
Q&A: Recording XBOX360 in HD how to do it?
Question by gunftw: Recording XBOX360 in HD how to do it?
I have been looking into place-shifting tv recorders like the hava platinum and slingbox pro and I am wondering if they can record my gameplay from my HDTV? I hear that they record live tv but does this mean over the air? cable? are they able to recrod pass-through from the tv?
Background INfo:
I have moved on past RCA composite recorders due to their crap video quality even using a VDA or splitter with svideo is not good enough. I have been looking into getting the hauppauge hd pvr and tristar hd pvr but they only record from component cables. I have heard of the blackmagic intensity pro which records in hdmi/dvi but the thing is my 360 is brand new and has HDCP most likely and HDMI uncompressed bandwidth is so crazy I would need hard drives set up in raid or have pcie SSD drives and that is just way to expensive for my needs. The black magic capture card is said to be able to use mpeg compression on input video but I just do not have a pc that can accept this card currently and cannot afford to buy a new rig atm.
Best answer:
Answer by MacZilla
There are only a few devices that will and have the capabilities to record in HD yet the question does your laptop have the power and if you have a Tower then its a lot easier.
Units that are out there are as follows:
Avermedia MTVUHDDVR AVerTV USB HD DVR its suppose to be good yet not a lot of owners on YouTube as of yet.
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&q=avermedia+hd+dvr+usb&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=1115965316235988356&ei=JJBETd7NKoPUgAeambn2AQ&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCEQ8wIwAA#
Top dog some say is the Hauppauge HD PVR yeah its good yet it demands a lot of a laptop a whole lot....also RAM has to be Maxed and it needs a top shelf CPU as well.
http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hdpvr.html
Another that man y are looking at is the Blackmagic Intensity Shuttle yet it needs a USB 3 port to get this thing going.
http://www.blackmagic-design.com/products/intensity/
As for dropping HD or 1080P Full HD on any laptop or hard drive consider going down a notch and look at dropping it in at 720i as 720P is hard on some units.........its easy to convert 720i to a higher HD yet its harder to fix a video with lots of lag time and jaggies and even audio and video not syncing up.
JUst giving you the background info as to whats out there you are looking to the right place with Blackmagic yet if your going to do a lot of video editing and capturing look at a tower as its far easier.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
Cool Slingbox images
A few nice slingbox images I found:
The status panel
Image by craig1black
Once I complete testing (to make sure it runs the batteries without issue) I'm going to box them up and extend the wires in a nicer fashion. Having a big blue box in my living room isn't the most pretty thing in the world but hey, I'm a geek!
Here the UPS is running:
Server (Athlon 1000)
Firewall
Sony 34" widescreen TV
Sony Stereo
HDTV DVR (Motorola)
Tivo
Slingbox
Vonage
DSL modem
X-Box
Playstation 2
DVD Recorder
Upconverting DVD Player
Ethernet switches
I goes between 3 out of 5 and 4 out of 5 bars of load.
Online in the air
Image by Jeff Hester
I took this screenshot while surfing the web on my way from Kuwait to Frankfurt on Lufthansa airlines. Free wireless broadband. I was even able to control my DVR back in California using Slingbox!
Q&A: I’m looking for something that will let me watch my DishNetwork on a non-attached tv?
Question by dirkums: I'm looking for something that will let me watch my DishNetwork on a non-attached tv?
I was at BestBuy one day and I found this cool thing that would plug into the analog output on a box, such as a Dishnetwork box, and transmit it throughout the house. It was before slingbox, so I know it wasn't that. It was something like 0. I was just browsing at the time, but now I could really use something like that. We have a dual tuner from Dishnetwork and want to get a tv in our bedroom, but we can't get it wired. I have no idea what it would be called and I couldn't find it on any of the electronics sites I visit. Can anyone help me?
Best answer:
Answer by Paul B
go to x10.com
Give your answer to this question below!
Can I use an Apple AirPort Express to “relay” an wireless network to my MacBook?
Question by CobMan151: Can I use an Apple AirPort Express to "relay" an wireless network to my MacBook?
There is WiFi at my place of employment but it doesn't reach the outside smoking area where we take breaks. I would like to watch TV on my laptop from my Slingbox at home during breaks. I have an Apple AirPort Express coming in the mail that I'll be using to stream music from my MacBook to my stereo. Can I also use the AirPort Express as a relay between the WiFi network at work and my laptop out in the smoking area? I will be the only person using the "relayed" signal. I can place & power the Express 1/2 way between the WiFi network and the break area. The wireless routers at work are Belkin wireless G's. If anyone knows about this kind of thing please advise. Thanx.
Best answer:
Answer by macdudeosx
Yes, you can use it to extend the wireless network.
It will also still play music wirelessly to speakers plugged in to the airport and print using the usb port on the airport.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
Q&A: My router isnt set up to view my sling box?
Question by : My router isnt set up to view my sling box?
I cant seem to setup my online viewing for my Slingbox Solo. Whenever I try to initialize it it closes my Safari or it tells me my router settings need to be manually changed. I have AT&T Uverse and i can get to my router settings, but i dont know what i am suppose to be doing when i get there. am i suppose to create a pinhole or do i just change my firewall settings. Please help. I need to watch tv even when i leave my house.
Best answer:
Answer by Chopper Read
You need to go to the port forwading settings of your router and set port 5001 to forward to your slignbox ip
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!