Need a New Computer

I'd be very leary of cheap cases that include power supply's. cheap power supplys are generally not a good idea, they can fail in 2 weeks, or 2 months, can't tell when, but they will, and sometimes, they'll wipe out a motherboard or hard drive when they go. you will want all ethernet cable connecting them, no wireless.. ither way is just as easy in Ubuntu, but with the wireless you would need to install the restricted broadcomm drivers, but fast wireless is only 100 MBPS. you can run full gigabit with ethernet.. also, if your connecting them togther directly ( no switch ) you will need a crossover patch cable, rather than a regular cat 5/ cat 6 patch cable. if your running 3 computers you will need a gigabit ethernet switch.

Matt, I have the Gigabit Ethernet switch given in the microWulf list of components along with another switch to permit using the mouse, keyboard and monitor on each box by switching to the four different boxes. After setup that will be less useful but initially it may be helpful. Just about everyone has warned about the power supplies but we will see how it goes. All the computational links are by Ethernet, but wondering how to connect to the Internet. Our home wireless network is for all WINDOWS systems and I have read up on a LOT of stuff related to hooking up a LINUX box to the Internet and it looks to me that the simplest answer is to run a 100 foot Cat6e cable.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

I just downloaded Firefox 2.?.?.?.?.?.(or whatever)

Holy moly - the speed makes IE6 look like a Model T in comparison to a Ferrari

I'll have to get used to some screen differences - but I can probably handle that little problem:D

Any clue as to what Brent added - 'Trackback' which is below the message box?

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Originally Posted by DennyW

Just click on it, and it will explain it. :)

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That was the first thing I tried - it doesn't. I guess since I've never wanted nor needed it, I still don't:LOL: :LOL:

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Originally Posted by Don Shillady

Matt, I have the Gigabit Ethernet switch given in the microWulf list of components along with another switch to permit using the mouse, keyboard and monitor on each box by switching to the four different boxes. After setup that will be less useful but initially it may be helpful. Just about everyone has warned about the power supplies but we will see how it goes. All the computational links are by Ethernet, but wondering how to connect to the Internet. Our home wireless network is for all WINDOWS systems and I have read up on a LOT of stuff related to hooking up a LINUX box to the Internet and it looks to me that the simplest answer is to run a 100 foot Cat6e cable.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

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Right, that's what I figured.. using a KVM switch to run 1 monitor/ set of pehriferals for
multiple computers... your wireless network will get picked up with the restricted broadcomm drivers installed.. if you run hard line, remember, you can only go 150' b4 you need a switch in between.

I run my dialup internet thru a shared windows internet connection on a win 2k computer.. should be no problem for you. IP and stuff is all set to automatic in ubuntu by default so whatever IP/ DNS windows pushes, Ubuntu will pick it up

Denny / Matt How do I rename my various drives. I finally figured out with a little bit of research that by plugging in my internal memory card reader BEFORE I loaded my OS which is XP Home that it would take the normal 'C' hard drive designation. The hard drive became (H). This really is no problem but semantics, but then...... I can reload XP, but not sure that it's necessary. Disconnecting the card reader and manually renaming the drive really doesn't work. It just names it (C) (H)

Oh yeah, my second card reader, a Rosewill just died after 2 days so I'm relegated to my 5 year old $5 unknown brand external version until I decide on which to buy this time:CRY: .

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Originally Posted by IC2

I did try IE 7 a while back and after some pain reloaded IE 6.

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I too tried IE 7 and it seemed to have more bugs (Typical for anything new Microsoft releases) than a june bug convention.
The only reason I keep IE around is because of Microsoft updates. Seems as though some don't want to load properly with Firefox.

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Originally Posted by DennyW

click start, help and support.

Type in drive letter, and go.

It gives details for changing them right there. Easier than me typing all that. :LOL:

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Thanks Denny
I can and did change some. But the hard drive..... the system wont "allow" it so whatever - if I have to reload XP, then I can (probably) fix it then.

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Originally Posted by NTFDAY

I too tried IE 7 and it seemed to have more bugs (Typical for anything new Microsoft releases) than a june bug convention.
The only reason I keep IE around is because of Microsoft updates. Seems as though some don't want to load properly with Firefox.

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I'm leaving IE6 on for just that reason, regardless of the fact it occasionally crashed my computer. IE7 - what a waste!!! But I think I already said that:D

I don't remember how to switch drive assignment in windows. I can tell you how to do it in Ubuntu linux tho, just right click on the drive in the storage media folder, click unmount, then right click and click mount as, change it to what you want. it dosn't use drive letters, it uses things like /hda1 and /hda2 rather than C: or E:

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Originally Posted by Matt167

I don't remember how to switch drive assignment in windows. I can tell you how to do it in Ubuntu linux tho, just right click on the drive in the storage media folder, click unmount, then right click and click mount as, change it to what you want. it dosn't use drive letters, it uses things like /hda1 and /hda2 rather than C: or E:

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Matt
The XP "system" will not allow a change in the primary drive according to my attempts and the pop up screens that tell me that I'm in error. I can change anything else - but the operating hard drive:HMMM: .

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Originally Posted by DennyW

What you said in #162, you have to un plug everything except the main drive, and boot up like (only that drive showing), that in order to make that the C drive. I always do the main hard drive, then, add the other hard drives, then the extras, like readers and so forth. That may be your problem.

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I tried that as well when I had the cover off - my guess is that XP wont let you change the hard drive with OS on it without a full reload - and if I do that, I'll bite the bullet and get the XP Pro and start all over. It really is no problem - except to my anal (but cluttered) "orderly" mind:LOL: :LOL: . I can name every other drive whatever I want ... but (H) , so......:p

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Originally Posted by DennyW

:LOL: Well, after a short time, you will get used to it, and when someone asked about your C drive...You can say, I don't have a C drive.... :LOL:

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Exactly

(Wot's a sea drive?? Mercruiser?? Duhhhh)

im trying to sell a computer so i can get a trans, its pretty badass but it's a desktop!!!!

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Originally Posted by IC2

Matt
The XP "system" will not allow a change in the primary drive according to my attempts and the pop up screens that tell me that I'm in error. I can change anything else - but the operating hard drive:HMMM: .

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you might encounter that problem. it is because the boot sector sees that, you could trick it by editing the registry, but I would not attempt that. the easier fix is to remove all accessory drives, boot the system, make sure there drivers are removed ( if appicable ).. then boot the system once, it will recognize the boot drive as C:, reinstall other drives and they should go E:
and D: first:)

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Originally Posted by Matt167

you might encounter that problem. it is because the boot sector sees that, you could trick it by editing the registry, but I would not attempt that. the easier fix is to remove all accessory drives, boot the system, make sure there drivers are removed ( if appicable ).. then boot the system once, it will recognize the boot drive as C:, reinstall other drives and they should go E:
and D: first:)

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Matt,
I'm resigned to leaving it as (H) until I have to do something else inside the case but housecleaning. It's only semantics at this point:eek: :D

Hi Matt, I am speaking to you from "Chemwulf" using Ubuntu, although I only have the Master box running so far. I have had a LOT of help from various friends up to this point but I did put the four PC boxes together from components. I got three of them running myself but the fourth would not boot up and I pulled out the CPU from the socket with the fan attached because once the fan is attached the lever in the CPU socket is covered by the fan. Then I pulled out the motherboard and ordered a new CPU and motherboard. When a friend visited he said let's put it back together again. I doubted the CPU would work because the pins screeched when I pulled it out but we put it back together again and realized that one PC was the only one in which I did not use the tiny fiber washers on the motherboard so we put them on this time and to my AMAZEMENT it booted up. Now I am waiting for three SATA II 80 Gb drives to put one in each satellite box to run the parallel version of the free chemistry program GAMESS. Last Saturday I had a big dose of help when a "Pro" HPC Systems Programmer from VCU from whence I am retired but still "Emeritus" installed Ubuntu and the f77 compiler for me. He will return when I get the disk drives installed and install the Ubuntu-Server system on the satellites along with the GAMESS program. The hope is to run GAMESS for "fun" research AND to have this master box for the Internet. I have a lot to learn about administraitve LINUX but I am remembering a lot of the commands needed to compile f77 and run f77 jobs. In a sense I have achieved part of my goal to get this system running during the cold months before the warmer weather calls me back to the roadster in the garage, but I have had a LOT of help! I suspect DennyW still knows more about the hardware than I do but the assembly is pretty easy if you order the right parts.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

Don,
Congratulations on this accomplishment. My guess is that if more folks knew how easy it is to put a computer together after a (very) little bit of research, there would be a lot fewer Dells, Hp and similar hohummers out there. When I finally looked inside the old Dell (now in Midlothian, VA) the lack of quality surprised me - dinky and flimsy little mobo, itty bitty CPU, 1 fan for the whole thing and a tiny heat sink. I already have upgrade plans for this new one but may possibly never do more then add more RAM.

I amazes me how a simple thread started on 11/05/07 has grown in 4 months and the amount of information passed on. :D :D

IC2, Thanks, but I did buy a CD from the "PC Mechanic" and watched it five times! Unfortunately that CD did NOT show application of the thermal coating so when I tried to remove the CPU fan I was only able to "slide" the CPU off the bottom of the fan AFTER I pulled out the pins!

Matt, can you tell me anything more about Virus protection for a Ubuntu system?

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

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Originally Posted by Don Shillady

IC2, Thanks, but I did buy a CD from the "PC Mechanic" and watched it five times! Unfortunately that CD did NOT show application of the thermal coating so when I tried to remove the CPU fan I was only able to "slide" the CPU off the bottom of the fan AFTER I pulled out the pins!

Matt, can you tell me anything more about Virus protection for a Ubuntu system?

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

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you don't need virus protection in Ubuntu unless your dealing with Windows computers too, thru the network. the Clam is the virus scanner Ubuntu uses.. it dosn't scan for itself, it scans attachments and things for outgoing emails, and files going outside the computer thru the network..

are you running KDE desktop or are you running Gnome?

Hi Matt,
Gee I don't know. I/we loaded Gutsy-Gibbon Ubuntu 7.10 and so far my use has revealed that the anti-virus support only goes up to the F-Fawn release 7.04. All I know is I log on and go to "system" to select "Internet" and then to "Firefox" which gives me the latest BBC news (!) Then I can go to Google or Yahoo but not MSN. I can reach Hotmail from Google OK. I have a lot to learn but I was glad to be able to reach the Hot Rod Club Forum. I still do not know whether I can use my Master box for the Internet while running Chemistry calculations on the Beowulf setup but as far as I recall LINUX systems are true multiprocessing systems, we shall see! Any comments related to Ubuntu use will be useful at this point, thanks.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

nope.. go into Synaptic, update the database if you havn't arleady. type in Clamav, it is supported for 7.10... IDK what might be causing MSN not to work, cause it works for me... go into the terminal and type sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list it will open up the text editor.. paste in this thread it's context. I can make sure that stuff is all OK.. it could have an effect on what sites work

Matt, Just a few dumb questions. I visited my academic Systems Programmers today and they use Fedore Red Hat so they were not sure about your directions. Synaptic seems to be a free program site, right? Then I select ClamV and past it into my apt/etc/... right? They said there is an automatic update called "freshClam" but they are using Fedora. When you get a chance can you spell out the procedure in more detail?

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

Hi Matt, Well maybe I got it the easy way. I just went

Administration -> Synaptic -> Search -> klamav

When I entered "klamav" it loaded a lot of stuff (about 100 Mb) automatically and then I entered "klamav" again an got an update and set it for daily update, which I guess is what "freshclam" does so I guess I am as set as I can be for antivirus protection at the moment and it is all free! I would like to know how to make an icon if you can tell me but for now I know how to type "klamav" in the terminal command line. Thanks for your help. Sorry you are selling the Falcon, that is a light weight body that could be pretty peppy with an engine transplant, but I know how it is financially. I had to wait until I retired to afford a Model A roadster that I could have bought for $600 in 1960 but that was way to much for me then!

Best Wishes,
Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

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Originally Posted by Don Shillady

Hi Matt, Well maybe I got it the easy way. I just went

Administration -> Synaptic -> Search -> klamav

When I entered "klamav" it loaded a lot of stuff (about 100 Mb) automatically and then I entered "klamav" again an got an update and set it for daily update, which I guess is what "freshclam" does so I guess I am as set as I can be for antivirus protection at the moment and it is all free! I would like to know how to make an icon if you can tell me but for now I know how to type "klamav" in the terminal command line. Thanks for your help. Sorry you are selling the Falcon, that is a light weight body that could be pretty peppy with an engine transplant, but I know how it is financially. I had to wait until I retired to afford a Model A roadster that I could have bought for $600 in 1960 but that was way to much for me then!

Best Wishes,
Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

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I'm not sure how to create an icon like that w/ GTK as I use KDE and it's a little diffrent, but I know AVscan is a Clamav frontend which will put an icon in the utilities menu, just use synaptic to get it.. Fedora core is based on redhat, which uses RPM packages.. UBUNTU is based on Debian, which uses .deb packages. commands and stuff don't interchange between them.


I'd like to keep the Falcon, it dosn't need an engine transplant as I just recently rebuilt the 200 6cyl engine w/ a lot of speed parts and a turbocharger.. I'v just lost the interest and I can't let it sit, I see more potential in my '51 Chevy, so I'll fund that project w/ whatever I get out of the Falcon

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Originally Posted by Don Shillady

Matt, Just a few dumb questions. I visited my academic Systems Programmers today and they use Fedore Red Hat so they were not sure about your directions. Synaptic seems to be a free program site, right? Then I select ClamV and past it into my apt/etc/... right? They said there is an automatic update called "freshClam" but they are using Fedora. When you get a chance can you spell out the procedure in more detail?

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

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get into Synaptic.. update the list, then search for Clamav.. double click on clamav and mark for installation.. click apply on the top.. then click ok... it will take care of the rest and install it. if you prefer the command line way, just type sudo apt-get Clamav

I figured I'd best dredge up this oldie - as I was having some problems with the computer freezing up solid - nothing. Mouse or keyboard - NADA. Ctrl - Alt - Del, same. Hit the big kill switch to shut it off. Reboots fine for a few minutes to a few hours, then all over again. I found a freebie registry repair site, Glarysoft Registry Repair. According to them, I had upwards of 200 software/hardware incompatibility problems that needed to be corrected - and were. Fingers crossed - so far, so good.:3dSMILE:

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Originally Posted by IC2

I figured I'd best dredge up this oldie - as I was having some problems with the computer freezing up solid - nothing. Mouse or keyboard - NADA. Ctrl - Alt - Del, same. Hit the big kill switch to shut it off. Reboots fine for a few minutes to a few hours, then all over again. I found a freebie registry repair site, Glarysoft Registry Repair. According to them, I had upwards of 200 software/hardware incompatibility problems that needed to be corrected - and were. Fingers crossed - so far, so good.:3dSMILE:

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Hmm, be careful with some of those registry repair programs, some fix for a while but there fixes actually do damage.. there are some really good 1's..


I do have 1 suggestion... Ubuntu 8.04 just came out and if you download it and rip the .iso to a CD, you can install Ubuntu 8.04 inside windows ( no partitioning nessasary ) using Wubi. I just did this with my Vista laptop and it's so much better than vista but... Vista is still usable and if I want to get rid of Ubuntu, I can uninstall it in windows... The Wubi option comes right on the disc, just put the disc in when windows is running, it will autoplay:)

Also, I got KDE 3.59 installed and KDE 4 installed along with Gnome that comes with it.. don't bother with KDE 4, it is still a beta release and it's buggy, and I cannot get it to correctly.

IC2 and Matt,

I tried using Ubunto v7.1 but ran into a steep learning curve and a non-compatibility problem with my video card so I switched to Centos so that I have the same system as my former university employer and can call on the System programmer there but then I ran into a problem with system lockup. "We" think it is a problem with a memory stick and we are in the process of testing the memory. My problem seems to be related to heat since it locks up faster when it gets warmer. I am going to check out the memory by replacing various sticks with a spare but I think I am going to have to put the whole unit in front of the air conditioner in that room. One of my cheapo 420 watt power supplies fried itself and has been replaced by a reliable 550 watt unit but the other problem seems to be related to the higher temperature in the Spring weather up in the attic so it looks like I will have to use the air conditioner. We are going to try one of the memory checking programs but I think the problem is too much heat even though the Bios says the CPU is running at only 41 degrees C. Maybe heat is a problem, IC2?

Don Shillady
Retired SCientist/teen rodder

41* right on the money for an AMD prosessor. if you'v got the prosessor clocked up, the memory might suffer, that does happen but more than likely you got a bad stick..

What video card are you running? Ubuntu supports both Nvidia and ATI cards, tho you have to install the restricted drivers.

I recently downloaded 4 new distros to try out ( along with Ubuntu 8.04 )

I downloaded PC Linux 2007
Slax
Freespire ( Debian/ Ubuntu based )
and Xbuntu

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Originally Posted by DennyW

Sorry Matt, but all that stuff your doing, and all the things you have to do just to get it to work right, just doesn't seem very good to me. Not knocking you, but it sure seems like you are working way to hard. :)

Theres a few programs, and places you can go to test your memory.

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you don't have to do anything special to run Ubuntu, Installing the restricted drivers for the video is the only thing I had to do to get full function out of my computer, no other drivers were necessary for my desktop, all other drivers were fully supported and were right on the disc and installed themselves, little problem with the installation at first that caused system files to be corrupt but a quick edit in the sources.list file and I was good, that only happened because I have dialup ( no connection when installed ). For my laptop, I had to install the broadcom wireless drivers and the ATI drivers but, that was easy.
Ubuntu is an easier install than Windows, by far:)

Restricted drivers are drivers that are not editable thru the GNU/ opensource. they have the chip information copyrighted and not released so the GNU cannot make a free editable driver.. all drivers are free as in no cost but, restricted drivers are non free because you cannot edit them.

I had a very cheap video card but we got further with the installation when we replaced it with an Nvidia card. I haven't finished the memory check yet.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

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Originally Posted by DennyW

Ok, I see what you mean now. Kind of like what I have been doing with some of the effects plug ins. Some you can rework as long as you have the code source. :)

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yup, just like that actually. There are free Nvidia drivers but they are a little unstable still, so I went with the restricted drivers that came right from Nvidia..:)

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Originally Posted by Don Shillady

I had a very cheap video card but we got further with the installation when we replaced it with an Nvidia card. I haven't finished the memory check yet.

Don Shillady
Retired Scientist/teen rodder

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I'm running an XFX Nvidia Geforce 5200 FX ( 128 MB ) card successfully. I think the MX series cards are not fully supported yet, but I'm not sure as it is the same driver for both

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Originally Posted by Matt167

yup, just like that actually. There are free Nvidia drivers but they are a little unstable still, so I went with the restricted drivers that came right from Nvidia..:)

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Possibly that's why I had start up problems with my GeForce 8400. I ended up with a straight download with a current update.

As far as a registry fix software, I researched the available ones and what I ended up with was the highest recommended of the freebies. Unfortunately it hasn't completely cured my problem. One of my memory sticks, maybe???? It always reboots fine.

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Originally Posted by DennyW

That sounds like a possible multiple listing in the registry. Have you tried advanced windows care ? It's a really good free one also. Comes with Iobit, which defrags also, and maintains the system all the time.

I would say you can go start, run, and type in regedit, click ok. You then can look through the system, programs, softwares, and remove duplicate listings. But, you have to be very careful what you remove. And, as always, do a system backup before you make changes, so you can always go back if you mess up.

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I downloaded the Advanced Windows Care and ran a clean up with that as well. Everything seems to be running fine now. We'll see!!!

Be interesting to see if my photo card reader work consistently now. Occasionally I've had to unplug the USB cable and replug it in - somehow this all started by the original in-case version failure.

I did a clean and dump on the systems tools a couple of months ago and got rid of some of the XP bloatware so that is fine. With the clean ups and sending photos to the external drive and to CD's, my 320 GB hard drive is now at 96% empty -:eek: Gotta go download something and fill it up now!!

Not interested in UBUNTU - yet.

Gotta go do something useful now. Like buff out a car part:3dSMILE:

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Originally Posted by IC2

I downloaded the Advanced Windows Care and ran a clean up with that as well. Everything seems to be running fine now. We'll see!!!

Be interesting to see if my photo card reader work consistently now. Occasionally I've had to unplug the USB cable and replug it in - somehow this all started by the original in-case version failure.

I did a clean and dump on the systems tools a couple of months ago and got rid of some of the XP bloatware so that is fine. With the clean ups and sending photos to the external drive and to CD's, my 320 GB hard drive is now at 96% empty -:eek: Gotta go download something and fill it up now!!

Not interested in UBUNTU - yet.

Gotta go do something useful now. Like buff out a car part:3dSMILE:

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the in card case readers drivers could still be active causing conflict, make sure there turned off/ uninstalled.

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Originally Posted by Matt167

the in card case readers drivers could still be active causing conflict, make sure there turned off/ uninstalled.

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Thanks Matt - all electronic trace is gone as far as I can see on the set-up screen (uninstalled)

dude seriously if you want a badass computer ill make you a deal.