GoRedwings19's Computer Help Hotline

I'm looking to hook up an HTPC for streaming from the NAS and watching youtube/streams. It must be able to decode 1080p and DTS/Dolby. Ideally, it would run something like XBMC or another linux based system to speed up boot time. Budget is $200. Maybe an Acer Revo? Apple TV 1?

GAH! I'm sick of using Window media crap. Is there a way to install a program on a Windows XP machine without administrator proveledges (this is my work computer and the folks down at IT won't install iTunes or Quicktime). Any workaround oh great computer gurus!?!?!

I must say this is one of the nicest monitors I have used and at the price of just under $400 it will be nearly impossible to beat. The monitor is 16:9 and has a native 2k resolution (2048x1152) with selectable 1:1 pixel mapping. This isn't perhaps the best monitor for gaming as I have found 16:10 to give you a bit more viewable area but for movies and TV this monitor is fantastic. I highly recommend it for anyone considering a monitor upgrade. The screen is glossy but not nearly as glossy as others. For movies I personally prefer a glossy screen for daily browsing and text viewing I prefer a matte finish.

I'm wondering if there is any good software that can implement a "jukebox" style web interface to browse all albums. Basically create a website on a local computer that is easily updated with album art and artist information by simply inputting information into a field. The user can then just go to their local website and browse their entire collection say for example by album art. Or clicking on an artist which would then take you to a page of album art for just that artist. It wouldn't have to playback anything just serve as GUI showing the user what music they have access to. I'm using foobar2000 and iTunes, but both of them have become too cumbersome when de…

My laptop of three years might not be of use any more The charger pin is either loose or faulty since I have to wiggle the charger wire a lot in order for it to get a secure connection. It's got to the point where I have to fiddle with it for as much as a half an hour before it sticks, only for it to loosen up with the slightest movement. And since it was an OEM (Compal) I'm not exactly sure how to get it repaired...if any one has any ideas I'd appreciate it. So I'm considering a new laptop. I paid $1300 for this one back in the day and I'm fed up paying so much for what's pretty much a two to three year disposable device (previous Dell lasted same amount of time).…

Anyone know of a utility that can reset a USB port? Occasionally I will plug something into one of the keyboard ports that draws too much power and it will be disabled. I've also had the front USB port (PowerMac dual G5) be disabled (not sure what one of the kids did to this ), but a restart cleared it.

I think I just fried mine, but is that possible? My laptop charges fine with my brother's charger but mine doesn't seem to work. Question: Should I buy another one from lenovo or any cheap one from ebay? or does anyone have a spare?

What apps are you using these days? Me: - Remote - Bejeweled 2 - NY Times - Things - Epocrates - MLB.com At Bat - ESPN Fantasy Football - City Transit - Official NYC Subway Maps - Shazam (personal favorite) - Facebook

So I've been using the new Screen Time feature in iOS12 to lock the kids' iPads and phones overnight to remove temptation and alleviate bedtime arguments. Was working well. Until I notice today that a couple of notable apps (Clash of Clans, Netflix) are no longer blocked on Alec's devices even when Screen Time is active. Hmm, that seems ... mysteriously convenient. I reset everything (including the master passcode) on his stuff and on my phone, which is the main controller. No change. So I then manually add these apps to the "Always Allowed" list, then manually delete them. No change. Try this with a couple of other apps and it works just as you'd expect -- add them…

Okay, so I need some computer help. I've got a Drobo, formatted HFS+, that I was using to store a lot of my goodies (2.8TB worth). The Drobo was usually connected to my HTPC running Windows XP - I used MacDrive to access the Drobo. Occasionally I would swtich the Drobo to my Mac to transfer files directly. I recently noticed that some of my files weren't working on the PC - I would play videos in VLC and nothing would happen, etc. When I connected the Drobo to my Mac, they would play. Now, I've discovered that some files "work" when Drobo is connected to the PC but not the Mac, others work when connected to the Mac but not to the PC, and some files don't work in ei…

So far its pretty straightforward. The apps are more like bookmarks. The Dragonfly DAC does not work but the Fiio is plug and play. I think the Pico DAC will work. I have the Acer 11.6 with Celeron and 320gb. Open box was too cheap to not bring home and try it.

This is my first year without cable. I would like to be able to watch the Astros games in real time instead of just watching the highlights, with mlb.tv. Some suggest using unlocator dns service. Is there any security risk to using this on the apple tv or ps3? I don't think I would feel comfortable using it on the computer or router. I don't use my ps3 for anything but playing local games so it seems I could use it only for mlb.tv and playing games without much risk. https://unlocator.com/faq/ If so, has anyone been able to get around the mlb local team blackouts?

anyone have a Magic mouse and windows 7 pc/lappy (not a dual boot mac) that can test if the Magic mouse works and if you can scroll with windows? need a mouse and it would match my Apple Keyboard nicely..

Ok, I'm real late to this one. But why is bittorrent useful to me? And is it easy to use?

I have to get one of these to replace the latest one to die on me. I want something good that will last a couple years at least. For home use, kids and all, and color is a must. Any laser options for all in one? Please give me some ideas. Thank you.

Well there are more and more rumblings all around about not using University equipment (computers) for non-University functions (music listening). So I plan to head off the whole issue by setting up another computer (personally purchased) to serve the music to my work rig (output to Apogee Mini-DAC). The question for you is should I buy a Mac Mini or a Dell Studio Hybrid? and more importantly, why? The unit needs to be small, OS is irrelevant, I'll use itunes on the Mini or J. River Media Center on the Studio, the library will be on an external drive (most likely directly connected), I have my library in both FLAC and ALAC, it will be for playback only, it doesn't h…

I'm the de facto IT guy in my office, and I need to protect our data with something cloud-based that will do an automatic backup every day at a specified time. We have three computers, less than 1 TB in total. I know there are a lot of options, and I don't know what makes each one better or worse than the others. Can someone give me a really quick "get this one, stupid"?

Looking at setting up a on premise IP PBX system at our new hospital and was wondering if anyone here has experience in that field? Also need some recommendations on a firewall/router solution and PoE switch.

Is it possible to use Mobile Me to sync my calendar if I don't own a Mac, or Microsoft Outlook? I was kind of hoping I could just have everything I key into my iPhone calendar go to the magical me.com cloud in the sky, but it looks like if I try to sync my iPhone without first having synced with Outlook or iCal, it will just zap everything on my iPhone Calendar. Is this the case?

Apple released the new updated MacBook Pro and MacBook models today. Only 30 days after I bought my MacBook, too. Stupid Apple not going by their usual update/upgrade schedule.

My grad school group is looking to host web based calendar system on our server to reserve instruments. Do any of you, perhaps Todd, know of a good one? Here are some features we'd like: -ability to email all users simultaneously -email users by clicking on their scheduled time -prevent an instrument from being doublebooked -email administrator to request training for an instrument -web based administration interface

I decided to give my dad my partner's old laptop (Pentium M 1.6Ghz 1GB RAM). After erasing everything and reinstalling Windows XP Pro from the original disk, the computer kept crashing. I am guessing that it had something to do with some drivers. Instead of trying to fix it, I wiped the HD clean and installed Linux Mint on it. I figured that he could do everything on Linux that he needed. So I get to my parents house today and find out that most of what my dad does on the computer is stream Netflix movies. As far as I can tell, you cannot stream Netflix with Linux (even with Moonlight). If there is a way, I would love to know. My other option is to insta…

You guys always come through, so now I'm looking for the best easiest to use Mac FTP client.

In this day and age, this should not be that hard. I am looking for some decent backup software. Here's how I'd like it to work. 1. I want real time backup -- I don't want to have to run it every night, or press a backup button. I want for the software to detect when I have changed a file, and back it up. 2. I want it to keep all version of the files it backs up. 3. I want the backup to be in the cloud -- I don't want to have to maintain a backup server, and I don't want to backup locally. 4. I want the software to sync several computers. I use about 5 different computers, and I want for a change on one to be replicated to the others. I have been usin…

My Mac mini (2011) died. No warranty. I was using it with attached USB drives and a Drobo I replaced it temporarily with a laptop I had lying around and re-attached my existing drives to it to serve files. This is a temporary solution. Before I had the mini I had a Netgear ReadyNAS with two drives in it. I need to serve out video, back up photos and other important files from across my local network, and run Crashplan and such. Maybe Plex? I was thinking of building a FreeNAS box myself, because it's the kind of thing I like to do. Then I stumbled across the FreeNAS Mini. Overkill? Probably. But that's when my middle name again reared its head: "Pay For Con…