How to update graphics card drivers

Steps to identify your video card and driver version:

Click on the Start button and select Run. (For Vista/7 Users, press the Windows Key (the key with the Windows logo on your keyboard) + R (at the same time) and skip to step 3)

Type in DxDiag and click OK.

After the DirectX Diagnostic Tool loads click on the Display tab.

Your video card Name and Manufacturer will be listed in the Device section.

The version of the driver you have installed should be listed under the Driver box next to the word Version.

Go to the driver manufacturer's website to obtain the most up-to-date driver.

OCZ Vertex 3 BSOD

I am sharing this post for information - there is no solution.

OCZ Vertex 3

I bought an OCZ Vertex 3 120gig SSD when I upgraded my system. 

Installed Windows 7 64bit on it and the next day I got my first BSOD (Blue Screen of Death). I rebooted the computer and it could not find a system disk. I had to go in to the BIOS and search for the drive then set as boot drive again. 

I Google'd to see if I could find a solution - the option was to upgrade the firmware but people were complaining it slows the drive down.

Other options were to disable power saving on the drive which I did as the BSOD were only happening when the computer was inactive. However after a week the BSOD started coming if computer was active or idle.

The company (Over Clockers UK) that I bought the drive from told me to return it as it sounded as if it was faulty due to not being seen by the BIOS on reboot. 

I replaced the drive with an Intel 510 Series 120 GB drive and have had no problems at all.

The OCZ Vertex 3 did have the edge on the Intel 510 - the OCZ scored 7.9 and the Intel scores 7.8. It is only very slightly noticeable but if compared to an old SATA II drive it is blistering fast.

Anyone thinking of upgrading should go for it but maybe read reviews if you are thinking about the OCZ or see if they have made some firmware that addresses the problem.

Tropico 3 Crash

I recently bought Tropico 3 for the PC - installed fine but when I tried to run the game it kept crashing to the desktop. Screen go black cursor change to game pointer then get an error message.

I am running dual screen and the game will run fine with one screen disabled.

The solution was to set the games refresh rate to the same as my screen.

How to fix

Go to control panel and disable your 2nd display.
Run game -> go to graphics options -> set refresh rate to 60hz from 59hz.
Go back to control panel and enable 2nd display.
Game will run fine now.

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PC wont boot with USB drive

An external harddrive is a great way to back up all your system files but you may of attached one to your computer and found that it wont boot and hangs on the bios information screen.

To get around this unplug the power on the USB External harddrive and then reboot - when your computer turns on you need to enter the bios - to do this hit the del key when you see the screen that shows your post screen.

In the bios you need to find USB mass storage support and enable this - exit your bios saving the change this normally is by hitting the F10 key. Then say yes to save changes.

Reboot your computer with your USB external Harddrive plugged in and it should boot you in to windows.

Update: My computer stopped booting and again was haning on the BIOS screen - I unplugged my USB drive and moved it to another USB slot and rebooted this fixed the problem.  

Rip DVD to iPod

Ripped a DVD to a format that you can use on your iPod Touch is easy to do.

You will need 2 tools which are free to use, the first rips the DVD to your computer and the second converts the file format to MP4.

To copy a DVD to your computer you will need DVD Decrypter which can be downloaded here

To covert the file to MP4 you will need Videora which can be downloaded here

When you have installed Videora it will give you full instructions of what settings to use in DVD Decrypter and then give you a wizard to then convert your file to MP4.

iTunes Locked Windows 7

The folder iTunes is on a locked disk or you do not have write permissions for this folder.

I got this error after changing folder locations on my computer that iTunes was set to use.

To get around this problem go to your 'iTunes folder' and right click on 'iTunes.exe' and choose 'Properties' - choose to 'Run As Administrator' - this should fix your error.

This isn't a permanent fix and you need to go through this process every time you want to load iTunes. Today I am going to look for a more permanent fix.

I have since (I do not recommend doing this btw) removed itunes and every itunes related entry on my computer inculding folders and reg entries.

I reinstalled iTunes and then had a new problem which was "This iPod cannot be used because the required software is not installed" I am running windows 7 64bit version and had installed iTunes 64bit version.

I googled that and found this post http://randomwindowstips.wordpress.com/2009/12/08/windows-7-itunes-9-software-is-not-installed/ - I followed these instructions and now everything works as it should. Thanks to the owner of Random Windows Tips for creating that post.

No sound firefox

If you have no sound in firefox and you have tried to reinstall flash player then another solution could be ..

While running firefox and something such as You Tube or something that should have sound

1. Right Click on speaker icon in systray
2. Click on Open Volume Mixer
3. Turn the volume up for firefox if its turn down