Ubuntu 11.10 “Booting system without full network configuration”

Posted on October 16, 2011 by TC McCarthy

About six months ago I was coming up with some inexpensive solutions to testing some complicated PHP scripts as well as playing with MySQL and net-based storage. I had an extra PC lying around in the shop so gutted it — loaded it up with some large HDDs and installed Ubuntu 11.04. I am by no means a linux expert, but I’m not a novice either. I know enough to be able to figure stuff out and navigate tutorials if I get into trouble.

Well, earlier this week I upgraded to 11.10 and, as with most upgrades, got into a little bit of trouble.

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Performing a Repair Install for Windows XP

Posted on August 10, 2009 by TC McCarthy

Blog and Tutorial by TC McCarthy

Repair installs can often fixed corrupt driver issues that cause the legendary Blue Screen of Death

Windows XP is currently the most stable operating system (OS) created by Microsoft (Vista? Let’s not joke.) And while many aficionados do anxiously await the October 2009 release of Windows 7, it’s not here yet.

Being the most stable, however, does not make it infallable… after all it does run on a computer. So what does one do when this OS renowned for it’s stability becomes unstable? You repair it.
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W32.Confickr

Posted on April 2, 2009 by TC McCarthy

An Illustration on how Conficker spreads

So I spent much of last night researching this Conficker virus. I wanted to try and figure out how to prevent it and how to kill it. I figured there was so much hype about the fourth version of this nuisance it was worth looking in to. Continue reading →

Video: Building a Computer

Posted on March 22, 2009 by TC McCarthy

The idea of assembling a computer is often overcomplicated to the inexperienced. The video above is the least time consuming, and least frustrating way in which Total Computers U.S.A. assembles the computers purchased by its customers.

Boot Camp — A How To

Posted on March 12, 2009 by TC McCarthy

2. You can try to find the beta download of Boot Camp for OSX Tiger. If you have Leopard it will be built in.

3. Run Boot Camp from Applications -> Utilities

4. Set your partition size and pop in your version of Windows XP (Must be SP2 SP1 and SP3 are currently incompatible)

5. Let windows install.

6. Pop in your OSX Leopard Disc 1 once Windows comes up. This will auto-install all of the necessary drivers for you. (Sound, video, wifi, network, camera, keyboard etc.)

7. Use your Computer.

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Anatomy of a Mac

Posted on March 12, 2009 by TC McCarthy

This is an awesome video from Apple about the new Mac OSX Leopard Operating System. Watch the video to explorer the beauty of the new and improved Mac

Oh No! I Have a VIRUS!

Posted on February 23, 2009 by TC McCarthy

42-15204290 Ok so you are a Windows user. . . you need an anti-virus. What is a virus? Technically speaking a virus is any form of code (typically malicious) that causes a computer to behave in a way that is undesirable to the operator (I know. . . by this definition Windows Vista is a virus). To protect yourself you go to <insert local office/software store name here> and buy the anti-virus that the high school kid that has been working there for ten minutes swears is the best on the market. You buy it. . . install it. . . and BAM! the next day you have a virus.

Its pretty annoying because the anti-virus you just paid <insert price here> dollars for is about as effective as jell-o, and your computer is now functioning at the level of a paperweight. So how do you fix your new found office decoration? Well I am here to give you some ideas. Continue reading →

A Computer Photo Map

Posted on February 23, 2009 by TC McCarthy

AAKW001148 Many computer users (MAC, PC, Linux and Solaris alike) often hear terms like hard drive, motherboard, CPU etc., but have no idea what they mean, what they do, or even what they look like. I have built a photo gallery that has images of all of the major components within a computer. Be sure to click the info button in the top right hand corner so you can see a description of each component.

Netbooks: What is the point?

Posted on February 19, 2009 by TC McCarthy

Dell Netbook

This summer a friend that I work with bought himself an Asus Eee-PC running Linux. He loved it. It had six hours of battery life, played movies, went online, didn’t get too hot and it fit quite nicely in his back pack’s front pouch. Weighing at about four pounds the netbook is quite cute, but comes with its own set of headaches. Continue reading →

Brain Powered Computer: Not a Metaphor

Posted on February 12, 2009 by TC McCarthy

Wired recently covered a story in which they reviewed comments and research by IBM’s Dr. Dharmendra Modra about how the company is working to reverse-engineer the brain’s neuro-mapping so it can be replicated on a processor. IBM says that this will end up being the most powerful computing system to date, but it will consume no more than 10 watts of power.

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