Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Disable internal PC speaker

If you're running Microsoft Windows you can disable the Internal speaker or PC speaker by following the below steps.

  1. Open Device Manager
  2. In Device Manager click View and click "Show hidden devices"
  3. This should make "Non-Plug and Play Drivers" visible in Device Manager.
  4. Expand Non-Plug and Play Drivers by clicking the plus and double-click Beep.
  5. Within the "Beep properties" window click the Driver tab.
  6. Under the driver tab if you wish to temporarily disable this device click the Stop button. If you wish to permanently disable this device under the Startup Type select Disabled.

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Saturday, September 18, 2010

Consumer Reports

ConsumerReports.org features ratings and recommendations of thousands of products and services. In addition to the ratings and reviews in the monthly print version, the online subscription offers more frequent updates, video clips, consumer user reviews, and a shop online feature.

It is an easy way to get good unbiased expert, independent reviews of electronic products and services. I used it recently for car and laptop reviews

You should be able to access most parts of the website through your local Library access. Yet another great use of my Memorial Hall Library card : http://www.mhl.org/resources/databases.htm#25

As a library user I have access to reviews, ratings, expert buying advice, product comparisons, consumer user reviews and product video clips. It also features reliability data, product specs, recommendations. I cannot post to the forums or access the “subscriber only” forums using the library account. Its a very easy way to zoom down to the product you would like to use.