Q:
I just recently updated the driver for my scanner and ever since, it seems like my computer is running out of sync. Everything seems very unstable and just not like it used to be. Is there any way I can reverse this or do something else about it? Please help!

A:
The answer to your problem is actually much more simple than you probably think. It sounds like you just need to do a little driver rollback. What's that, you ask? Well, let me explain!

Whenever you update a driver (basically, replace an old driver) on your computer, whether it's for a scanner, a digital camera, a video card or any other device you may have installed on your PC, it's not always guaranteed that the update will come through smoothly. Often times, it's invalid, incorrect or even corrupted. If that happens, it can really affect how your computer performs. It could even go as far as render your computer unbootable or make the device completely fail whenever you try to use it.

Luckily, in Windows XP, you can sort of reverse the update with the driver rollback feature. With that, XP actually saves a copy of the previous driver for you, so if you have any trouble with the new one, you can go back to using the old one. That will get you back to a place where you didn't have as many headaches when trying to use a certain device and it will also give you some more time to try and figure out why the new driver failed in the first place. Cool, huh?!

So, if your computer seems to be acting unstable, give the rollback a spin. Now, the driver rollback feature in Windows XP only allows for one level of a rollback, which basically means that only one prior driver version can be saved at one time. Also, I want you to know that the driver rollback option works for any class of device, but it will not work for printers, so you'll definitely want to keep that in mind. Okay, here's how you do it!

1.) Make sure you're logged in to your computer under the Administrator account.

2.) Find the My Computer icon on your desktop, right click it and choose Properties.

3.) Next, click on the Hardware tab and then the Device Manager button.

4.) Once you're in the Device Manager box, scroll down to the driver you want to roll back.

5.) Right click on the driver's name and choose Properties.

6.) Now, click on the Driver tab and then click on the Roll Back Driver button.

That will finish out the process for you and you will be back to using your old driver. Now, if you wish, you can do some investigating as to why the new driver didn't work for you. If you somehow figure it out, try the update again. propecia 90 day supply At least you now know you have the rollback option to fall back on. And what a great feeling that is!

That's a very good question and it's probably a smart idea to check and see what kind of modem you do have installed on your computer. That is, if you don't already know. It's buy generic propecia good to know in case something ever goes wrong with it. If you have to call tech support, you'll be able to tell them right away what type you have, etc. They will be impressed when you whip that information right out!

It's fairly easy to look up the type of modem you have in your computer. You just have to follow a few steps. Note: These steps are for Windows 98, 2000 and XP only.

Okay, let's get started! Go to Start, All Programs, Accessories. Under that section, look for the System Information folder. XP users will have to click on System Tools and then System Information.

Once you're there, click on the + (plus sign) next to the item called Components and then click on Modem. A whole page of information will come up on the right hand side telling you things like the name of your modem, a description, the provider name, different compressions and controls, speaker modes, tones, memory address, ports, channels and more. It's amazing how much information you can get about your modem by following just a few simple steps!

You can also get information about your modem by actually looking at it. You should be able to find items like the name, manufacturer, model number, speeds, etc.

If you ever have to call tech support about your modem, that sort of information is good to know ahead of time. That way, you don't have to take time to look for it while you're on the phone. Know the manufacturer, the type, the model and the speed of your modem if possible. It will read something like this: PCI 3COM 96k modem. And now you know all about your computer's modem. Yes!

If you've gotten a new computer in the last few years, it more than likely came with USB ports. If you're not brand propecia sure, USB ports are the little slots on either the front or back of your computer that you can use to plug in certain devices, such as a flash drive or digital camera. USB ports come in two different speeds: 2.0 and 1.0, with 2.0 being faster. Most newer PCs have the 2.0 speed, but if you purchased yours quite awhile ago, you may have the 1.0 speed. So, if you've ever wondered which speed you have, keep reading to learn how you can find out!

To get to your computer's USB area, you need to right click on the My Computer icon on your desktop and choose Properties. Next, click on the Hardware tab and then hit the Device Manager button. When the new window opens, scroll down to the very bottom where it says Universal Serial Bus controllers. Click on the plus sign (+) next to that and all of your USB information will come up. You may have quite a few listings or you may only have a few. It just depends on how many ports came with your computer and if you've added any yourself.

If you see one that says something like "USB Enhanced Host Controller," that means you have the 2.0 speed. The "Enhanced" part is what sets the 2.0 apart from the slower speed. On my computer, that entry was the very last one, so make sure you look through your whole list before you make any assumptions. Also, just for your information, if one of your USB ports is 2.0, it's likely that all of your ports will be the same. That goes for the 1.0 speed as well. Most computers don't come with two different port speeds. So, tell me, how does it feel to know what kind of USB speed your PC is running? Pretty darn good, huh? Check yours out today!

Have you ever wondered if there is a limit for the amount of power one of your USB ports can handle? I mean, it makes sense that one of those little ports can only take care of so much. But how much is too much? Well, that's exactly what we're going to find out today! In this tip, we'll go over the proper amounts you should be placing on your USB ports and how you can check them to make sure they're being used correctly. This is some good information for anyone who uses USB ports, so please keep reading!

To begin, I'm going to say that the general amount of power that most USB ports can handle is 500mA (milliamps). It is a good idea to check the status of your ports every once in awhile to make sure you're not exceeding the brand propecia online power they can endure.

If you don't check on that regularly, you could be setting yourself up for a USB power crisis and no one wants that! You use your USB ports for several of your devices and you may not realize how much power all of those things are taking up.

For example, you may use the ports for your digital camera, cell phone, your mouse, the keyboard, a Webcam, a music player and so on. If you have several of those devices running at the same time, they're fighting for the power and if a port is overwhelmed, it could completely shut down. Along with your USB port being damaged, your devices could be at risk too.

To check the power demands on your ports, you have to go through the Device Manager. If you use Windows XP or 2000, right click on your My Computer icon and select Properties. Then choose Hardware, Device Manager.

For Windows 98 and ME, right click on My Computer, choose Properties and go directly to the Device Manager.

Within the Device Manager box, double click on Universal Serial Bus controllers (it's the very last item on the list). Next, you're going to double click on the first line that says USB Root Hub. There will be multiples of those, but click on the first one listed. Now, choose the Power tab (it will be the Power Properties button in 98 and ME).

Under the Attached Devices area (Devices on this Hub in 98, ME and 2000), you will find a list of all the devices you have running through your ports at the moment. You will also be able to view each one's power requirements (in milliamps).

As mentioned above, a port can handle up to 500mA, so if one of your root hubs is close to that 500 mark, you need to switch around some of your devices to other root hubs so that everything isn't all filling up on one.

You can also connect another hub to your PC if you have an available port. There are hubs available out there today that can turn one port into four or even more. So, if you're close to overloading your root hub, you may want to look into something like that as well. Please do what you can to keep your USB ports safe!