Should I get a PDA or is a cell phone enough?
I'm trying to decide between a Palm Tungsten ($299) and using my Motorola RAZR for everything. The Palm has a better calendar and contacts app but that's another device to carry. My phone can do basic email. Is there a device that combines a phone and a PDA? I heard about these smartphones but they're really expensive.
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5 Answers
Definitely back up your important files before trying any fixes. I learned this the hard way when I lost 3 years of photos trying to fix a simple problem. Get an external hard drive or burn DVDs of your important stuff first.
Make sure you have the latest drivers from the actual manufacturer's website, not whatever Windows Update gives you. Video card drivers especially — nVidia and ATI release new ones every month and they make a real difference.
I'd check Device Manager for any yellow exclamation marks. That's Windows telling you a driver is missing or broken. Right-click My Computer, Properties, Hardware tab, Device Manager. Fix anything with a yellow mark and a lot of weird problems clear up.
Before you do anything drastic, try booting into Safe Mode (tap F8 when the computer starts up). If the problem goes away in Safe Mode it's a software or driver issue, not hardware. That one trick narrows down half of all PC problems.
Newegg is your friend for parts. Way cheaper than Best Buy or CompUSA and the customer reviews actually help you avoid junk. Just watch out for shipping on heavy stuff like CRT monitors. Read the reviews before you buy ANYTHING.
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