laptop questions

Pfkninenines · Global Moderator 12/4/08

Partitioning a harddrive won't let you back up to it... The point of 'backing up' is to get your data off your computer and put elsewhere so it's there as the backup if something goes wrong.. Putting the partition back won't solve this problem. Either get an external hdd, back up things online, or back up to some other physical media, or you'll be SOL if your laptop is stolen or breaks.

You've got 2 itunes icons because one of them is pinned to the taskbar and for some reason didn't get opened when you launched itunes. Right click on the one that doesn't open, or drag up on the icon, and say 'Unpin program from taskbar'

Adbot · **Posted:** July 12th, 2010, 6:21 pm

Marking22 · **Posted:** July 12th, 2010, 8:39 pm

So then how do i backup my computer then?

Evelyn · **Posted:** July 12th, 2010, 8:58 pm

Buy an external hard drive or upload your files to someplace like Dropbox.

dafin0 · **Posted:** July 12th, 2010, 9:21 pm

My hp already came backed up, so whenever I need to reinstall windows, I can use the program on my computer to do it. But it sounds like you don't have a pre-made backup on your system, so i'll explain how to create a backup and restore it.

You will need the following:

A couple of blank dvd's or cd's. If you decide against dvd's, ask your parents if they have a portable hard drive. This would no doubtedly back up all of your information. and you wouldn't have to grab so many dvd discs.

Creating the backup

Once you have those, click start. Then go to Control Panel>System and Security>Backup and restore. Then click "backup my computer". It will ask you what areas of the computer you want to back up (my documents, music, videos...etc.) (Just to be on the safe side, back up the whole C:/ drive). Then, you will have to insert the dvd's (or portable hard drive). It should come up with a box showing all the available hard drives or cd-drives with backup capabilities. I'd put them in before going to the backup program. Then backup the computer. Then just wait until the backup is completed.

I would reccomend making two copies of the backup, so if for some reason, they get lost, you have a spare set to go on.

I hope this helped.

Cheers, daifn0 :lol:

Marking22 · **Posted:** July 12th, 2010, 9:25 pm

Then my computer is stupid because it says it will do a backup thing every monday at 3 am.Tomorrow i go looking for either blanks or a portable hard drive or i might not back up my computer at all.Thanks pfk your tip for itunes worked.

Pfkninenines · Global Moderator 12/4/08

You can back up your information whenever you want... It's just set up on a schedule right now, and since you're not (as far as I know) going to have DVDs or an external hdd attached constantly, I'd remove the schedule. That being said, it would be wise to back up to an external hdd every month or sooner, with anything important (documents, etc) being backed up via Dropbox or similar service. That way if your computer dies, you'll still have the most essential files off site ready to be accessed wherever you are.

Glad the iTunes / taskbar tip helped

Adbot · **Posted:** July 12th, 2010, 11:29 pm

Marking22 · **Posted:** July 12th, 2010, 11:32 pm

Okay I will probably get dropbox when i start school so I can put important stuff on there and is it free.Also i love digsby such a good program anymore you suggest and i might not use steam since i dont have a credit card.

Pfkninenines · Global Moderator 12/4/08

You don't need a credit card for Steam.. Just to buy stuff. Tons of free stuff, and they often have free-weekends for games. Check out the PC Gaming event topic, as I've got links to HL2:DM and a few other games bundled with that for free.

If you're in the US and like Hulu, I'd get their client. You'll need an account too, I think, but it's free. Just a better experience than the website, but not necessary.

Also, for DropBox, use Shane's referral link.. You'll get an extra 250mb, and so will he. That'll make him happy, and a happy site owner is always a good thing.

Marking22 · **Posted:** July 13th, 2010, 4:07 pm

Thank you PFK after going to your topic I noticed that my computer did not have the right graphics card so I brought it back and got the same computer but with the right graphics card and a i5.So right when I got home I ran PC Decrapifier and should I do anything else to do before I start downloading things.Also this computer came with Trend Micro Antivirus is that good or should I get the one I like?Also the last one had if you put two fingers on the track pad and went up and down the screen did too but this one doesn't.How do I turn that on.Also how do I get my games from steam to download to the D drive instead of the C.

Pfkninenines · Global Moderator 12/4/08

Ditch trend micro, it's probably a trial anyhow. Microsoft Security Essentials.. Free and very effective.

Not sure if you can move game directories once they're created, but what I did is install Steam to my D partition so that it's there if I reinstall Windows. It's the only thing on that partition, and even without all of my games the partition is nearly full.. Considering getting a new 640gb hdd, but that's neither here nor there.

PC Decrapifyer should be fine. Uninstall what you don't need / bloatware, and honestly try to get it back to the original Windows install (aka remove pretty much anything that's not from Microsoft.. Some stuff needs to stay, drivers etc, but the majority of programs are redundant and want you to buy a full version.). From there, install what you want, get Dropbox if that's your thing, etc etc.

Not sure about the swiping thing. Could have been a multitouch trackpad, and now you don't have it, or you're missing the software to recognize that gesture. Not really sure how to go about solving that, other than looking for 'multitouch' in the search bar in Windows / checking for updates, mainly optional ones.

For the graphics card, did you not have a dedicated card and now you do? The graphics cards listed are a general rule, but most new laptops should be able to beat the minimum specs of Source based games if they've got a dedicated card...

Marking22 · **Posted:** July 13th, 2010, 5:36 pm

Okay I am downloading Microsoft Security Essentials.

Fixed the steam just reinstalled it to my D drive.

I have synaptics on here but I dont know how to activate the multitouch thing.

Yeah the last laptop was supposed to have a nvidia geforce graphics card and it didnt thats why i took it back.This one does have the nvidia card.

Pfkninenines · Global Moderator 12/4/08

Multitouch isn't a software based feature, your hardware has to support it. That's why I'm curious to know if the one you traded for even has the multitouch features. Gestures you could add with software, but multitouch you can not.

Also, props on the dedicated graphics card.

Marking22 · **Posted:** July 13th, 2010, 10:06 pm

Well my last laptop could do it and it is the same as this one just that this one is a i5 and a better graphics card.Also I downloaded the NVIDIA steam package and its fun playing half life 2. But can i hook my ps3 controller to my laptop or do i need to buy a pc controller or should i just learn the keyboard ways?Also is 7zip like winrar or what i thought it was but it doesnt seem like it.

Evelyn · **Posted:** July 13th, 2010, 11:43 pm

Marking22 wrote:

But can i hook my ps3 controller to my laptop or do i need to buy a pc controller or should i just learn the keyboard ways?Also is 7zip like winrar or what i thought it was but it doesnt seem like it.

For first-person shooters, WASD and mouse is the superior control scheme, with a more natural (and logical) aiming system. Get used to it, people acquire targets a lot faster on PC.

Marking22 · **Posted:** July 13th, 2010, 11:47 pm

Cliff Dude wrote:

Marking22 wrote:

But can i hook my ps3 controller to my laptop or do i need to buy a pc controller or should i just learn the keyboard ways?Also is 7zip like winrar or what i thought it was but it doesnt seem like it.

For first-person shooters, WASD and mouse is the superior control scheme, with a more natural (and logical) aiming system. Get used to it, people acquire targets a lot faster on PC.

wasd? and i guess i need to go get a mouse too lol