The Geek Man http://thegeekman.com Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:49:34 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 How to install a Power Supply http://thegeekman.com/how-to/how-to-install-a-power-supply-2 http://thegeekman.com/how-to/how-to-install-a-power-supply-2#comments Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:49:34 +0000 http://thegeekman.com/?p=32 {Video Coming Soon}

In the video I go through all of the details you need to swap out your computer’s power supply, but I have listed the highlights below.

Things to know beforehand:

  1. What type of power supply do you need? Most cases use a standard ATX power supply (like the one in the video), but some smaller case computers take a special power supply that you will have to order online or find a local dealer who can get it for you.
  2. What type of connectors do you need? The Hard Drive and CD-Drive will either need SATA power connectors or the older 4-Pin connectors. You need to make sure your new power supply has enough of the right type of connectors.

Tools needed:

  1. Phillips screwdriver
  2. Flashlight

Time needed:

  1. 15 minutes

Steps:

  1. Disconnect computer from power source.
  2. Take the side off of the computer.
  3. Disconnect the connectors from the power supply to the motherboard and devices (hard drive, CD, floppy, etc.)
  4. Remove the power supply out by unscrewing the four screws from the back of the computer.
  5. Install the new power supply, put the four screws back in.
  6. Connect the motherboard and devices.
  7. Connect the power source to the power supply and test.
  8. Put the computer back together.

If you run into any problems please leave a comment or email me and I will do my best to help you out.

]]> http://thegeekman.com/how-to/how-to-install-a-power-supply-2/feed 0 Have you backed up your computer? http://thegeekman.com/random/have-you-backed-up-your-computer http://thegeekman.com/random/have-you-backed-up-your-computer#comments Wed, 30 Jun 2010 18:01:22 +0000 http://thegeekman.com/?p=26

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib5wLb2Ezn8

I was sitting at a customer’s office the other night working on his server. A power failure had killed one of the hard drives, but luckily for him the server had a built-in backup system and he hadn’t lost any of his data.

How about you? Have you ever had a computer problem where you lost important information like pictures, documents or emails? If  you have what have you done to prevent that from happening in the future?

If you have never lost important information on your computer what are you doing to ensure that it never happens to you?

I am asking that today, right now in fact, please use some sort of online backup software or go purchase a USB Flash Drive and make a copy of your important data.

I personally recommend a service like Carbonite (affiliate link) because once you install it on your computer it does everything for you. You don’t have to remember to run your backup program, you don’t have to remember to plug in your USB drive, it just happens -- no thinking involved.

So do yourself a favor and get Carbonite (there is free 15 day trial) or some other type of backup program to backup your computer.

]]> http://thegeekman.com/random/have-you-backed-up-your-computer/feed 0 How to save money on computer parts http://thegeekman.com/how-to/how-to-save-money-on-computer-parts http://thegeekman.com/how-to/how-to-save-money-on-computer-parts#comments Mon, 28 Jun 2010 23:10:54 +0000 http://thegeekman.com/?p=17

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFEtry29pGg

For my first How-To video I wanted to share something with you that is near and dear to my own heart… Saving Money!

I recommend that you stop buying your computer parts from stores like Best Buy, Office Depot, Staples, etc. and start buying them from local computer stores. The reason I say this is because these stores will normally sell what are called OEM (Original Equipment Manufacture) parts.

The only difference between the OEM parts and the retail store bought parts is that the OEM parts normally don’t come with packaging or documentation. That’s where you start to see the cost savings. Plus the people in these stores are usually more knowledgeable about computers and are great to ask questions of.

So go visit your local computer shop and get to know some of those guys and girls and while you’re there save a buck or two.

]]> http://thegeekman.com/how-to/how-to-save-money-on-computer-parts/feed 0