Wed Feb 25: the TO DO list for CET

TOMORROW (THURSDAY) WE WILL BE UPSTAIRS IN A323!!!!

OK folks, here is where we stand:

A) Joshua, Hal, Kerry: you will be using all three of the utility programs you installed on your computers yesterday, starting with CPU-Z (either version), then Belarc Advisor, then Everest Ultimate. I want you guys to each compile a report using WordPad or NotePad. This report will have a section for each program used. Each section should have at least the following elements:
1) how is the information presented? Is it in webpage format? Is it a single screen? Is it multiple screens?
2) What information can you get for each of the following:
motherboard, CPU, RAM, hard drives, CD or DVD drive, BIOS, Operating System, installed programs
3) how easy is this program to use?
4) how would you rate it versus the other programs (compare/contrast)
Save the report in a file named after yourself plus the phrase "three utilities". I will collect them on one of my thumb drives, then email them to you.
B) John --> I have these programs on my thumb drive, so lets copy them to your computer from there, then you can install them, then you can do A) above

C) Nick --> please install speakers/sound card, test 'em to make sure they're working, then copy and install the system utilities mentioned above (I have some CDs of that stuff when you're ready) Start the same report when you are ready

D) Mike R., & Joe --> start installing Windows XP. Btw Mike, your video card was not properly seated in the AGP slot, which is why you couldn't see anything on your monitor

E) Evan--> you may need to swap out hard drives for the machine you're working on, but before you do that, let's see if you can run that computer from a CD. I have several "live CDs" for that very purpose, so let's try that first. If any CD runs the machine, then we know its a hard drive problem; if not, the problem may be the CD drive needs replacing.

F) Tyler--> please swap out the video cards; there's a bunch of them by Jesse's machine. You may also need to swap motherboards as well

G) Mike S --> please remove everything from your machine except the power, motherboard, and CD and floppy drive; plus the video card (naturally). See if you can run a "live CD". Let me know what you find. btw, let's try to keep this as simple as possible to start with: if you change too many components at once, you will have no idea where the problem lies.

H) Jesse --> You mentioned hearing some strange beeps at startup, so I have taken the liberty of printing out some standard "beep code" lists. You get to be the first in your class to use them, so come get them from me. Please refer to them while the machine starts, and try to figure out exactly which beep you are hearing. Then we can try to figure out where to go from there

Cheers,
Mr. L