Things Not To Do

Some things might sound REALLY stupid and make the poster look stupid but it would be better to tell others of your mistakes than watch them suffer (unless you dont hate them).

Do not delete boot.ini file. Do not delete this file if you dont like the filename or even if your dog wants it - after restart your OS (windows) wont boot up..

Solution:

- Set your computer to BOOT from windows CD and restore the boot file.

- Reinstall windows.

- Make your smart friend fix your PC.

Do not use stupid tweaking programs or features that arent really necessary. Example: Tweaknow Powerpack 2003 > Display Properties > Hide Screensaver Page - will disable the entire Display Properties.

Solution:

- Uncheck this feature.

- Do not even start using it.

When having a motherboard with built-in videocard (which has the possibility to use system memory as videocard's memory) do not reconfigure from BIOS so that your built-in videocard uses 0 instead of 16 from ram (system memory) - after restart your vidocard will lose contact with reality and you can't see ANYTHING except some messed up blue and white stripes.

Solution:

- Use your telepahtic abilities to restore previous settings from BIOS (without seeing anything).

- Return the motherboard or computer to the store/ reseller & pay money to the queer personnel for repairing it somehow.

#94786

Thanks Timberg for sharing.

There's no point in saying that you're looking stupid. I mean, hey come on mate, we know that you're sharing because you want us to learn. >.<

Good intentions shall be appreciated!

And I appreciate it.

Thanks. :bow:

#94796

Mind if I share a few?

1. Don't set icon sizes to 128x128 by editing the regitry. I did it for fun and it split each icon into a left side, a middle and a right side; I couldn't even get them to go back to normal after changing the size back to the original size. (Solution : Format and reinstall WinXP.)

2. Don't mess with PartitionMagic if you don't know what you are doing. Somehow I made my main partition disappear. (Solution : Format, re-partition, reinstall WinXP and try again! )

3. Don't set your moitor resolution as the highest resolution if you are not sure it will work. For some reason, I have the option to go up really high, but the highest I can set it at is 1152x864. Anything higher than that and all I get is a black screen. (Solution : Format, reinstall WinXP.)

I'm sure you can see the trend here, that I tend to format a lot. I guess it's a good thing I back up often.

#95188

yeah, ok, don't test a 110 volt lightbulb connected to a cable in a 220volt connection to which your pc is connected and running. :6

#95190

dont lick the bare wires of a powerd cold cathode inverter

#95226

/me slowly puts down the bare wires and pulls his tonge back in

#95227

Peeing on your computer will not make it start but placing a Full 250 CD holder and a JVC Boombox controler will. Yeah, I accidently stuck my finger in the fan of the heatsink and a arm broke off causing the fan to hum as loud as an Iron Maiden concert. So I stuck my CD holder and a the controler between my desk and the tower and now the CD holder takes most of the noise away becasue it ebsorbs the vibrations of the broken fan.

So never stick your finger in ANY fan. It hurts like a son-of-a-gun and you'll have to purchase a new fan or go without listening to CD for awhile.

#95229

@vagabondmuse: if you change your screen resolution to someting that your monitor is not capable of.. do not touch the keyboard or mouse. 15 seconds or so later, you will be back to the old resolution.

if you do happen to f'uck up and press a button, find a friend with a better monitor, boot with his monitor, change resolution back lower. if you cant do this, go and pay someone at computer store to, or format and reinstall

#95237

Originally posted by corykg@Jan 4 2004, 07:28 PM

@vagabondmuse: if you change your screen resolution to someting that your monitor is not capable of.. do not touch the keyboard or mouse.  15 seconds or so later, you will be back to the old resolution.

if you do happen to f'uck up and press a button, find a friend with a better monitor, boot with his monitor, change resolution back lower.  if you cant do this, go and pay someone at computer store to, or format and reinstall

or you could restart in safe mode, change the resolution and restart.

When having a motherboard with built-in videocard (which has the possibility to use system memory as videocard's memory) do not reconfigure from BIOS so that your built-in videocard uses 0 instead of 16 from ram (system memory) - after restart your vidocard will lose contact with reality and you can't see ANYTHING except some messed up blue and white stripes.

Solution:

- Use your telepahtic abilities to restore previous settings from BIOS (without seeing anything).

- Return the motherboard or computer to the store/ reseller & pay money to the queer personnel for repairing it somehow.

install another vid card, PCI or AGP, change the bios and restart. any half way ok BIOS will turn off the onboard automatically.

Peeing on your computer will not make it start but placing a Full 250 CD holder and a JVC Boombox controler will. Yeah, I accidently stuck my finger in the fan of the heatsink and a arm broke off causing the fan to hum as loud as an Iron Maiden concert. So I stuck my CD holder and a the controler between my desk and the tower and now the CD holder takes most of the noise away becasue it ebsorbs the vibrations of the broken fan.

So never stick your finger in ANY fan. It hurts like a son-of-a-gun and you'll have to purchase a new fan or go without listening to CD for awhile.

with the above money u saved on tech fees, buy another fan .

-The Unknown

#95249

ok you older people may not wanna listen to me bekuz im 15 but anyway dont ever use a linux bott cd to play in your pc registry or to crack someones password im telling yu itll lock your pc down 4 ever so your best bet is to use a windows 2000 boot cd i think its pro ive never tried it but ive tried linux and it dont work huh (huh im glad i had a partition !)

#95257

1. don't recharge 'unrechargable batteries' with a trainset powerbox.

2. don't take apart a friend's walkman/tv/console to 'see how it works'.

3. don't 'guess' when doing electrical wiring.

4. don't second guess a rutschblock test.

#95263

Originally posted by vagabondmuse@Jan 4 2004, 01:29 AM

3. Don't set your moitor resolution as the highest resolution if you are not sure it will work.  For some reason, I have the option to go up really high, but the highest I can set it at is 1152x864.  Anything higher than that and all I get is a black screen.  (Solution : Format, reinstall WinXP.)

Just hit escape when your screen goes black

#95280

Originally posted by XJOSHATTACKX@Jan 5 2004, 12:04 AM

Just hit escape when your screen goes black

neva tried that, but if it works ill keep it in mind for the future.

-The Unknown

#95282

You guys seem to format an awfull lot for stuff that can be easily fixed. As for something really not to do, don't try to use an old AT power supply with a P4 board. Go for a good ATX one that has the required 4-pin 12v connector or else you wont even be able to get through an XP install without weird freezes.

#95333

Don't throw your pc out of your window when you're on the 99th floor if you just want to see what happens

#95359

Originally posted by XP_2003@Jan 4 2004, 04:59 PM

Don't throw your pc out of your window when you're on the 99th floor if you just want to see what happens

It's doubtful that posting such fiction is necessary.

#95364

"Things that will make a poster look like a moron?" - Don't buy a Compaq.

Fix: Buy a Mac.

And Don't do something if you don't know how to set it back. Like making all your *.exe extensions to a specific icon and can't get it back. Now all my apps have a blue flag with a globe on it.

Fix: Got any?

#95369

very smooth wizard, the purple prince of subtleness (word?)

#95372

Originally posted by Seph@Jan 4 2004, 11:35 AM

... subtleness (word?) ...

I don't know about subtleness being a word but, the purple prince of subtly will also work.

#95383

Originally posted by Timberg@Jan 3 2004, 04:45 AM

Some things might sound REALLY stupid and make the poster look stupid but it would be better to tell others of your mistakes than watch them suffer (unless you dont hate them).

Do not delete boot.ini file. Do not delete this file if you dont like the filename or even if your dog wants it - after restart your OS (windows) wont boot up..

Solution:

- Set your computer to BOOT from windows CD and restore the boot file.

- Reinstall windows.

- Make your smart friend fix your PC.

Do not use stupid tweaking programs or features that arent really necessary. Example: Tweaknow Powerpack 2003 > Display Properties > Hide Screensaver Page - will disable the entire Display Properties.

Solution:

- Uncheck this feature.

- Do not even start using it.

When having a motherboard with built-in videocard (which has the possibility to use system memory as videocard's memory) do not reconfigure from BIOS so that your built-in videocard uses 0 instead of 16 from ram (system memory) - after restart your vidocard will lose contact with reality and you can't see ANYTHING except some messed up blue and white stripes.

Solution:

- Use your telepahtic abilities to restore previous settings from BIOS (without seeing anything).

- Return the motherboard or computer to the store/ reseller & pay money to the queer personnel for repairing it somehow.

(-) respect for that last remark!

#95671

And Don't do something if you don't know how to set it back. Like making all your *.exe extensions to a specific icon and can't get it back. Now all my apps have a blue flag with a globe on it.

Fix: Open the registry editor (regedit.exe), navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\DefaultIcon.

Change the (Default) value to %1.

This will use any embedded icons if they exist.

#95940

1. Dont let your pet in the room when you've got the case open and are fiddling around inside... The cat I had kind of urinated on the motherboard... Luckily it didn't short it out. (I almost shorted out the cat though)

2. Lock the BIOS with a password you can REMEMBER just in case your little kid sibling wishes to mess around in there...

3. When buying a PC check the requirements. When I was 8 we bought our first computer, and thought we were getting a Pentium 2 (crap now but whatever) but they gave us either the wrong one or they just lied to us. We got a P1 200 MHz instead...

4. Ground yourself before working on your computer. I've shorted out a sound card, 2 modems (1 ISA, 1 PCI).

5. If your monitor color suddenly changes, check the pins on the cable. We bent the green one, and my monitor was purple for 1 1/2 years before I got the idea to check the cable... (It was also when I fried my first modem)

6. In a thunderstorm or when a power surge is likely, unplug your computer! I didn't do that, and lightning hit mine and killed it. It took me quite a while to get my parents to fix it even though it was the family PC. (the only one as well)

#96010

Don't take the fan off your shiny new 9800XT and proceed to fire up your pirated copy of the HL2 pre-beta with maxored video settings

(haven't actually done this myself )

#96042

Originally posted by Jaggedfel@Jan 5 2004, 09:21 PM

4. Ground yourself before working on your computer.  I've shorted out a sound card, 2 modems (1 ISA, 1 PCI).

en though it was the family PC.  (the only one as well)

Can someone explain grounding to me? I do it but I don't know what/why I'm doing

#96045

Just touching something metal so that any built up static electricity discharges safely and doesn't fry any sensitive computer parts. Static electricity tends to be more of a problem in certain climates than others.

#96138