The Technology Help Corner.

[Qvar]

After trying to open it up and cleanning it (without success), I ultimately took at a pair of tweezers and ripped the menu button's circuit apart... And it worked. No more menu spam

Now another question, this time not a real problem but more like a configuration one:
I have my desktop PC and the router at the upper floor of my house, but we also have a TV and a laptop that do not recive wi-fi very well and we would like to connect via ethernet anyway. The reason... Well, my mother is one of those anti-wifi crazies and there would be no amount of reasoning on Earth that would make her change her mind.

I've been considering a PLC, but it worries me that I may get power shortages, since there's only one AC connector (or whatveer you call the holes in the wall where you plug things) around here. Should I worry about connecting my pc, screen, lamplight, modem etc to the back of a PLC? Would there be a way to connect a secondary router at the lower floor?

 

[Idsertian]

Once again, Escapists, I find myself in need of your technical assistance. I am at my wits end with this problem, as I can't figure out any fix or workaround for it.

The problem is that my monitor (which I've had for around a month or so) keeps blanking out for random amounts of time, usually around 1 or 2 seconds, as if it's trying to switch inputs or refresh rates. Connections are firm with no play in the plugs at either end, so it's not a connection issue. The monitor also came with its own driver, which I installed at the same time I connected it and is up to date (I've checked).

PC and graphics specs:

Spoiler

Now, I'm reasonably certain it's not a hardware issue and that it's a software fault somewhere. At first, I thought it might be Silverlight, which is where the problem manifests itself at the worst. When trying to use Amazon Prime Instant Video (which uses Silverlight, naturally), the screen will constantly blank out, return, blank out, return. Obviously, this renders watching anything impossible. So I followed Amazon's tips for resolving problems with it:

Tried Silverlight in another browser (switched to Firefox from Chrome): No luck.
Reinstalled Silverlight manually: No luck.
"Fixed" and reinstalled Silverlight with the "fixer" on Microsoft's tech site: No luck.
Cleared Silverlight's storage cache: No luck.
Tried resetting the DRM management: No luck.

At this point, I would simply switch to using the Flash player, but it seems that option is not available to .co.uk customers for reasons. I even tried lowering the refresh rate from 144hz to 60hz, to no avail.

It's not just Amazon the problem is limited to, however. Whenever Kaspersky pops its equivalent of a UAC message (which is rare), the screen will blank for a second. Whenever GeForce Experience checks for updates, the screen blanks (I have disabled auto-updating as a result). It's even taken to doing it while I'm gaming and generally using the PC, though I have reason to suspect that that may be GeForce Experience again.

If anyone has any suggestions on how to get this to stop happening, I will be enormously grateful.

 

[Rosiv]

Hello, i have another issue with one of my machines. For a few months ive been getting this same piece of malware appearing on my scans, i try and remove it, but it does not work. I disabled it somehow a while back via advice from one of the escapists tech savvy folk, but i just want it gone for the sake of cleanliness. As far a i know it hasn't affected me in any way though which is nice.

 

[Twinrehz]

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This might seem a bit too basic, but have you tried replacing the cable? I experienced a faulty HDMI-cable once, which seemed to cut out at specific places in Journey on my PS3, until it occurred to me that I had experienced random blackouts with it when I used it on my computer as well.

Worth a shot.

 

[Idsertian]

-snip-

I haven't, but the cable is brand new and came with the monitor, so it's probably not that. Probably.

It's definitely not the internal hardware, at any rate, as I've since done a few test recordings that are completely fine, despite the monitor blanking out. Interestingly, I've also downloaded GameBooster from Razer, and that seems to have mitigated the problem almost entirely, though I still can't watch anything on Amazon. >_>

EDIT: Ugh, I completely fluffed that reply up, didn't I? Fixed.

 

[Twinrehz]

-snip-

-doublesnip-

Doesn't matter how new it is, the HDMI cable I mentioned was also brand new. There will always be bad cables, even if they have no noticeable marks on them. It is one of the easiest things to check, if you have an extra cable, and from your description it could sound like the cable can't handle the load sent from the computer to the screen, and it also sounds exactly like the problem I had. It would mostly work, then just drop out at some point and come back shortly. Seemingly in a pattern, but still somewhat random.

 

[Idsertian]

-snip-

-doublesnip-

-multisnip-

Well, given the fact that the monitor now does the blanking out only when using GeForce Experience or something Silverlight related (which is basically never) ever since I installed GameBooster, I don't think the cable is the issue. I can happily play games, browse the net, watch YouTube, write stuff, etc, all without any issue.

I was talking with someone in the MLP group here on Escapist a while ago, and they mentioned that screen flicker is a known issue with GFE that nVidia are supposedly "working on". Doesn't help with Silverlight, obviously, but that's something, at least.

EDIT: Not that I don't appreciate you trying to help, of course, I just don't think the cable is the issue here. :3

 

[Twinrehz]

-snip-

-doublesnip-

-multisnip-

-quadrasnip-

EDIT: Not that I don't appreciate you trying to help, of course, I just don't think the cable is the issue here. :3

Always happy to help, even if it's not very helpful. Glad you sorted it out, never heard about GFE making that kind of problems before.

 

[Rosiv]

I have another question. I think after its last update MalwareBytes has gone to a 30 trial version, and im not sure if there is a free version anymore. So are there any alternatives to it? Im using AvG atm, but i was wondering if there was anything dedicated to spyware/malware removal.

 

[AWAR]

I have another question. I think after its last update MalwareBytes has gone to a 30 trial version, and im not sure if there is a free version anymore. So are there any alternatives to it? Im using AvG atm, but i was wondering if there was anything dedicated to spyware/malware removal.

MWbytes is free, you just got tricked to checking the box for the trial version when you last updated. Simply uninstall it and download the free version from the MWbytes website.

 

[Rosiv]

I have another question. I think after its last update MalwareBytes has gone to a 30 trial version, and im not sure if there is a free version anymore. So are there any alternatives to it? Im using AvG atm, but i was wondering if there was anything dedicated to spyware/malware removal.

MWbytes is free, you just got tricked to checking the box for the trial version when you last updated. Simply uninstall it and download the free version from the MWbytes website.

Bah, thanks again awar, always apriciate your help.

 

[Qvar]

Hello, fellow escapists:

Currently at home I have my router and my PC at the upper floor. I have 2 PLCs (let's say they have a capacity of X) so I can send signal to my father's laptop in the lower floor. Recently my brother has moved back in, and he has his own PC in a different room in the lower floor. Is it possible to buy a 2X PLC to add to the net? I would put that on the upper floor, so that it has double capacity than the ones working as exit.

In other words, do PLCs work only on pairs, or can I use 3 of them?
In case I can use 3 of them, can one of them use a greater capacity than the other two?

Thanks!

 

[Dyan]

Hi!

So I'm currently in the process of upgrading my PC, but I've run into a bit of a snag with the processor. Namely, if that processor is compatible with my motherboard.

My motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3. The processor in question is an AMD FX-SERIES FX-4300.

It says that the processor socket is an AM3+, but my motherboard has an AM3 socket. Will the processor work for me?

Thanks in advance!

 

[AWAR]

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According to this no. What is your current processor?

 

[Dyan]

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According to this no. What is your current processor?

AMD Phenom II X3. I don't see any Intel processors on there. Does my motherboard just not support any?

 

[AWAR]

snip

No, Intel processors have radically different sockets. You can only install the processors included in this list.
I'd suggest getting a used phenom ii x4 960 or similar. Or you could skip the upgrade for now and get a new MoBo and a processor in the future.

 

[Rosiv]

Is it possible to connect a internal DvD drive with something other than a Sata cable to my motherboard, i was just curious, and googling didnt seem to help.

 

[Twinrehz]

Is it possible to connect a internal DvD drive with something other than a Sata cable to my motherboard, i was just curious, and googling didnt seem to help.

There are SATA-to-IDE converters, though I'm not sure how well they work, or what they cost. Do you need it for any specific purpose?

 

[Rosiv]

Is it possible to connect a internal DvD drive with something other than a Sata cable to my motherboard, i was just curious, and googling didnt seem to help.

There are SATA-to-IDE converters, though I'm not sure how well they work, or what they cost. Do you need it for any specific purpose?

My motherboard is too small to fit the sata cables and a GPU so i either have to get Left angled sata cables which are more expensive than the regular ones, or only use 1 sata port for the HDD, and let the Sata cable for the DvD drive be some other type of connector, but thank you either way.

 

[Originality]

Is it possible to connect a internal DvD drive with something other than a Sata cable to my motherboard, i was just curious, and googling didnt seem to help.

There are SATA-to-IDE converters, though I'm not sure how well they work, or what they cost. Do you need it for any specific purpose?

My motherboard is too small to fit the sata cables and a GPU so i either have to get Left angled sata cables which are more expensive than the regular ones, or only use 1 sata port for the HDD, and let the Sata cable for the DvD drive be some other type of connector, but thank you either way.

Two more options are getting a SATA to USB adaptor (usually involves routing the USB cable to the back panels) or, more practically, getting a PCI (or PCIexpress) SATA card to give your system more SATA ports. Which you get would depend on your motherboard and case.