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1029usr078198
Forum Admin
USA
333 Posts |
 Posted - July 07 2011 : 08:17:09
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Listen now. or Download the archive.
Question: Chuck asks, "I have a message on my screen that says, 'Insert boot disk and press enter.' Where do I get a boot disk?"
Answer: Good question Chuck. Normally, when you start your computer, it goes through several self-tests and then tries to find Windows or Linux, or some other operating system to start up. That search usually ends with your computer finding Windows on your hard drive and then starting it up. However, in your case, the computer looked everywhere it was told it should, but couldn't find an operating system to start, so it's asking you to give it one. This message usually means one of two things: 1) Your hard drive isn't listed as one of the places to look anymore, or 2) Your hard drive has a problem. You can remedy the first situation by going into something called System Setup. It usually requires you to press some key right after turning your computer on, like F2 or the Del key. When you get in there, look for something called the Boot order or Boot Device Priority. Make sure that the hard drive is on the list somewhere. The second problem usually means there's a problem with your hard drive and you should probably have it looked at by someone. On the other hand, if you've just had a new hard drive installed, then either your old drive's data wasn't copied over, or you'll have to put your Windows disc in the DVD or CD drive and reboot. Some computers come with one or more Recovery Discs that among other things contains Windows. If you don't have a Windows Disc, this one should work. Vista and Windows 7 discs have features to let you repair your drive relatively automatically if that becomes necessary. Use their features if you haven't put in a new drive, and maybe it will start normally after you reboot.
Cool Site: KidsKnowIt.com: This week, our cool site is KidsKnowIt.com. This is actually a network of sites chock-full of educational activities for, as they put it, the young and the young at heart. All the sites in the kids know it network are free and cover topics like astronomy, biology, math, memory, geography, geology, spelling, music, games, history, dinosaurs (and the site approaches dinosaurs from an old earth perspective), and a site of educational movies each of which ends with a short interactive quiz. The site has a character, Nanna KnowItAll, who does a science-related video podcast that you can access. There's a featured animal and a featured dinosaur. Clicking the animal or dino will bring up an article about the feature. There's even a virtual world called Miamiopia, in which you create a balloon character, because Miamiopia is where balloons go when they escape human hands. Your character then completes learning activities to earn virtual coins. Those coins can be spent in the shopping district to buy things like clothes, wigs, and other accessories.
Cool Gadget: Bloggie 3D Camcorder: From Gearlog.com this week is an announcement that Sony has a new digital camcorder that shoots in 3D. This is pretty cool, because the videos don't require special glasses to see them in 3D. It is also a 5.15 megapixel still camera. You've got a 4x zoom, face detection, Sony's SteadyShot to help reduce blurring from camera motion. It has full HD (1920x1080) resolution and 8 gigabytes of memory to store pictures and videos. You can export your photos and videos to 3D photo frames, 3D TVs and the Nintendo 3DS, but best of all, it's only $250. That can be a lot of money, but for 3D?
It's All "Geek" To Me: Troll: This week's term doesn't relate to a kind of motor for your boat, nor to a mean character that lives under a bridge: it's Troll. A troll refers to someone on Facebook or other social website who uses that space to make mean or otherwise offensive comments. Often those comments don't have anything to do with the topic at hand. They are generally a nuisance in online communities and sometimes stir up arguments among other users of the site. Their activities are discouraged, and may even go against the site's usage guidelines, so they may get removed from the site, and webmasters actively remove their comments.
Links
Tech Tip Friday's Show Notes RSS Feed:
http://www.daconsult.com/downloads/rss.xml
Kids Know It:
http://www.kidsknowit.com
Bloggie 3D Camcorder at Gearlog:
http://www.gearlog.com/2011/05/sony_releases_bloggie_3d.php
Troll at TechTerms:
http://www.techterms.com/definition/troll |
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5/6/2011-Bootdisk?,KidsKnowIt,Bloggie,Troll
