Welcome to my links page.
**Update: 19 Jun 05. As of this date, I will no longer be supporting or updating this site. Since the advent of such great search engines like Google and others, the need to keep it going just isn't as necessary any more. For all those of you who helped me build it with all your great submissions or your frequent visits that kept me motivated, thank you very much for the years of support. Best of luck, Brian.
| Beginners | |
| Basic System Buyer's Guide - January 2005 | Looking to buy instead of build? A nice read from Mikhailtech.com. |
| Beginners Guides: Ten Steps to a Secure PC | Well, not entirely for beginners. Users with moderate Windows knowledge should check this guide out as well. |
| PCGuide.com | Good resource for finding basic PC info as well as some of the more advanced stuff. |
| mechBgon's guide to building your first PC from parts | Photo illustrated, step-by-step guide to building a PC. Excellent walk-through if you're building your first PC. |
| PCBuilder.net | An excellent site for the beginner (and advanced) PC builder. Very unique in that many of the guides are available in video. |
| Build-PCs.com | Provides you the knowledge to easily and successfully build your own reliable computer for a fraction of the cost. In addition to a very well thought out building guide, this site has a very useful guide to buying PC parts as well. |
| Computer Repair with Diagnostic Flowcharts | An online version of Morris Rosenthal's Computer Repair with Diagnostic Flowcharts with links, info, and detailed flowcharts. Specifically, this site covers the portion of his book that details failure related issues. A great resource for the PC troubleshooter or someone who just wants to know more about how computers or various components work. For older PC's, checkout Morris's other site: Build your own PC! |
| How to Construct the Ultimate PC | MaximumPC's very large and detail guide on how to put together an enthusiast's PC. Gamers take note. |
| PCTechGuide.com | Actually not just for beginners. Detailed breakdown and explanation of virtually every component that makes up a computer and how they work. Excellent resource. |
| Beginnerspc.com | Hardware, Computers, games, tweakings, and just about everything else for getting your PC education started. |
| Building a PC - Illustrated Step by Step | Another well constructed "do it yourself" guide to building your computer. |
| Guide for Beginners & Administrators | A well thoughout site featuring study guides, Win2k stuff, certifications, tutorials, and much, much more. Something for both the novice and advanced user. |
| How to Build a PC | This one's from the gaming guru's over at Gamespot.com. A step-by-step assembly guide with some decent photos. |
| Using FDISK - The Screens | Although I don't think FDISK is generally something for novices, this guide makes it about as easy as it gets. |
| A Guide to Building a PC for the new PC enthusiast | A well thought out guide from VIA Arena on how to put together your own PC with some pointers along the way. |
| Buildyourown.org.uk | A free and simple, step-by-step guide to building your own PC, from buying the parts right through to installing the operating system. |
| Learn to Build a Computer | Nice little site. Well illustrated instructions as well as a nice glossary of terms and desciptions. |
| Troubleshooting a Dead/Unbootable PC | A short troubleshooting guide from Sysopt.com covering some of the areas to investigate whenever encountering this somewhat common problem. |
| Hot Stuff Works | Excellent site with general knowledge on almost everything except brain surgery (yet). Not just for PC stuff. |
| My Super PC | For those interested in suggestions, recommendations and directions for building an affordable, quality, fast PC! |
| Karbosguide.com | This site is not entirely for beginners. Great place for info and guides covering everything from digital imaging, PC Interfaces, to software tweaking. Advanced users might want to check it out also. |
| What's in the box? | General info about the in's and out's of your PC's parts. |
| Intro to PC Hardware | Well, you have to start somewhere. Everything you wanted to know, but was afraid to ask (well, almost anyway). |
| Tom's RAM Guide | An intro to and a walk through of the various RAM types and the meanings behind the acrynyms. |
| The BIOS Survival Guide | Probably the most mystical and fabled realm of sytem tweaking ever. Well, snap out of it. It's not magic. Get everything and anything you've ever wanted to know about the System BIOS here. Actually great for beginners and advanced users. Also, see the Drivers/BIOS section. |
| Build a PC | A very detailed walk-through that takes you through each step of the PC building process. Covers installation of all major Windows versions as well. This one is hosted by the hardware guys over at PCMech.com. |
| Newbie Guide: R-R-R | Exactly like the title says. A rather brief, to the point overview of the 3 basic "R's" (Re-Partition, Re-Format and Re-Install) that every PC enthusiast will sooner or later have to go through. This one is hosted by the folks over at Overclockers.com |
| Building a Computer (Step-By-Step) | A very well put together walk-through by the folks over at Sharkyextreme.com. Excellent snapshots. |
| How to Build Your Own PC | Another excellent walk-through accompanied by tips on planning a head and very good snapshots of the entire process. This one is by the folks over at Sysopt.com. |
| FDisk.com | To be truthful, even advanced user need to refresh their memories sometimes when using this utility. Anyway, if you've never used FDisk to partition your hard drive before, this page is worth a look. |
| domainsforbeginners.com | Good site for info on registering domain names and general FAQ. |
| Hard drive upgrade guide | Easy step by step walk-through on installing/upgrading your hard drive. This one is from the hardware review site: Dansdata.com. |
| How to build an Athlon | AMD's step by step guild on building an Athlon-based PC (in .pdf format). |
| Webopedia.com | On-line dictionary of all those computer terms you've heard of, but have no idea of what they mean. |
| LC's Beginner's Guides | Various beginner's guides by Lostcircuits.com covering a plethora of topics such as upgrading, installing a CDROM, performance tweaking, etc.. |
| Reinstalling Windows | Easy walk through for the person having to face reinstalling Windows for the first time. From Dansdata.com. |
| How to use FDISK | The official Microsoft tutorial page with fairly detailed, if not dry, instructions on how to use this old, but reliable partitioning utility. |
| How to...a Socket Athlon/Duron | As the title implies. Detailed instructions on how to put together an Athlon-based PC with either a socket T-bird or Duron. Great for the newbie or Intel convert. From Duxcw.com. |
| General Stuff | Top of Page |
| 5 Ways to Block Pop Ups | Pop Ups. I friggin' hate 'em. Here's five ways to suppress 'em. |
| Toolhaus.org | A *HIGHLY* recommended site for the eBay user. A Web based tool called Mutual searchs and tabulates ALL the negative feedback made from one individual on or towards another individual so you don't have to sift through a zillion pages. If you do any type of buying or selling on eBay, this site is EXTREMELY useful for researching your next prospective buyer/seller. |
| Belchfire.net | Wall paper site. |
| Digitalblasphemy.com | Wall paper site. |
| Graffitiwallpaper.com | Wall paper site. |
| Deviantart.com | Wall paper site. |
| Ianadesign.com | Wall paper site. |
| Vivisimo | search engine site similiar to Google.com. Nice organization search results. |
| OpenOffice | Direct link to download page for the latest version of OpenOffice, a free alternative to MSOffice (ie. Word, Excel, etc..). |
| Acronymfinder.com | Evey wonder what all these techie acronyms such as ECC, ATA, IDE, etc. stand for? A handy site for the novice or advanced user. You should not that this can be used for researching non-PC related acronyms as well. |
| IntelliRecovery – Data Recovery Specialists | Global data recovery services company specializing in hard disk & hard drive recovery. (Nice FAQ section also) |
| The Kim Komando Show | Homesite for nationally syndicated talk show host, Kim Komando. The Net's online Digital Goddess. Something for even advanced users. |
| Homemade Dust Repellent Solution | OK, I've never tried this myself personally, but for some of you who are tired of dusting off your computer screens, you might want to try using this homemade cleaning solution made out of fabric softener to keep the dust from building up. |
| Univeral Currency Converter | Really handy for figuring out much something costs in your local currency before ordering it (or going some place on vacation). |
| Compilers - The Basics | A good article from Realworldtech.com for those non-programmers who are unfamiliar with what a compiler is and what it does. |
| ALL-Free-ISP | Useful link for locating (the few remaining) free or cheap ISPs' in your area of the US or Province of Canada. |
| Heatware | Invaluable resource for anyone whose has had to sell to or buy from another individual over the Net. Avoid the trolls and help keep yourself from getting ripped off. See if the person has a Heatware reference if available. Not a guarantee, of course, but better than nothing. |
| Archive.org | Excellent site of researching old web pages that are no longer active or seemingly have dissappeared off the face of the earth. Can't find an old, defunct website? Check this archive to see if it's cached. |
| BBB National Search | Direct link to the Better Business Bureau's national database where you can do some more research on a retailer before buying. Especially useful if you can't find them listed over at Reselleratings.com. |
| Better Business Bureau | Hopefully, you'll never have to go this far, but if you need to file a complaint towards an online business that has done you wrong, here's the place to do it. This site covers the BBB for both the US and Canada. |
| FCC.gov | One of the most important websites a PC nut can use. Useful for identifying the manufacturer of any piece of hardware. Simply key in the FCC number into the database. |
| Altavista Translations | Useful site for reading web pages in a foreign language. This site will also do the language translation for raw text as well. |
| Translatefree.com | Similiar to Altavista Translations, only with a bit more options and links. |
| Google.com | By far, the BEST Internet search engine out there today. It's not pretty, but she's sure to get you there. |
| Arin.net | IP search and verification database. |
| Internet Fraud Complaint Center | Unfortunately, there are scams out there on Net. If you feel you've been ripped off by someone, You can file a complaint at this government site. |
| Georgi Guninski Security Research | Excellent site outline various security issues with popular browser such as IE, Netscape, etc. as well as Win2k. Covers a variety of topics regarding internet security. Georgi is a private security consultant. |