Since Gateway touchpads are delicate items, misuse of the touchpad or even just normal wear and tear can cause the touchpad to malfunction. For some people, it may be easier just to replace the Gateway touchpad rather than the whole computer. Warning: The process of replacing the touchpad is somewhat complicated, and you should be very careful in handling laptop parts. If you feel uncomfortable at any point during your Gateway touchpad replacement, TalkLocal can connect you to a trained IT professional to help you with this task.

Disassembling Your Laptop:

1. Power off the laptop and disconnect any peripherals and adapters connected to the computer
2. Touch a bare metal surface to discharge any excess static electricity.
3. Slide out the battery and remove the two screws securing the bezel in the back of the laptop.
4. Completely remove the bezel and disconnect the cable connecting the keyboard to the motherboard.

At this point, you need to remove the LCD display by disconnecting the four screws beneath the display and then remove four more screws near the center of the top cover. This will allow you to disconnect the blue and white cable connecting the touchpad to the motherboard. You now should be able to pull the top cover off the motherboard and replace it with your new touchpad. Ensure that you reassemble the laptop in the same way it was disassembled.

Once again, if you feel the least bit uncomfortable disassembling and reassembling your laptop, visit TalkLocal right now to find you a local computer repair professional to assist you within minutes. We will connect you with up to three local professionals who will be able to help you.

There are many errors you can get while starting up a computer.  One of the more common errors you might encounter is the infamous System CMOS checksum error.  However, while this error might be extremely frustrating, there are fortunately only a couple of problems that can cause this error, all of which are easily solved.

What does this error mean?

A checksum is a value stored in the CMOS memory in order to guard your computer’s BIOS software. Every time you boot up your computer, the current value is checked against the stored value to detect whether or not the BIOS was changed. If these two values are the same, the computer boots normally. However, when these two values differ, the system flags it as a CMOS Checksum error.

What can cause this error?

There are usually 3 main reasons for the System CMOS checksum bad error:

• A user or a virus updated the BIOS.
• The CMOS battery may not be functioning or has expired.
• In Windows computers, the main power supply was shut down before the operating system was shut off.

How can I fix this error?

If a user or virus updated the BIOS:

At boot, go into the BIOS screen by pressing del or F2 or the specific key combination designated by the motherboard (it should be displayed on the boot screen). Reset the BIOS settings back to default while checking that the date and time are correct. Afterwards, make sure to run a virus scan to ensure that a virus didn’t cause the error and the BIOS settings are still correct.

If the CMOS battery expired or isn’t functioning:

If you suspect this is the error, the battery can be easily changed. Before actually making any hardware changes, reboot the computer to ensure that the error still exists. Make sure to write down all the CMOS settings (if you lose them, you can obtain them from your computer manufacturer). Using the motherboard’s tech manual, locate the battery and remove it. Afterwards, replace it with a new battery with the same specifications (voltage and size) and reenter the CMOS settings.

If the computer was not shut down properly:

Make sure the computer shuts down completely before turning off the main power by going to the Start Menu and clicking Shut Down.

At any point, if you ever feel uncomfortable working with your computer or would rather have a trained IT professional do the repairs, you can always use TalkLocal to find a computer technician right now! We’ll connect you with up to three technicians in your area who can help you when you need it.

When you’re Skyping or video chatting with someone it’s extremely frustrating when you constantly hear your own voice echoing back through.  All you wanted to do was talk with your friend/family/significant other but all you can hear now is your own voice.  How can you fix your Macbook microphone echo?

The Problem

The echo you are hearing can be a result of a couple of different things.  First of all, it could be because of a delay in delivering what you said to the person on the other end.  The feedback is a natural result of this delay.  It could also be a result of them having their speakers set too loud so that their microphone is picking up what you are relaying.

How to fix this issue

The number one way to fix the feedback issue you are having is to keep your speaker’s volume low and try to use headphones so that what is being relayed doesn’t get sent back through to the other end.  Try to reduce any echoing by adjusting the way you are sitting or the angle of the computer in relation to the speakers.  This echo could also be the result of a faulty application. Try using a different app for chatting such as skype, oovoo, ichat, or facetime.

You can also go into system preferences on both ends to try and resolve the issue.  From there click on sound, then input.  Highlight the microphone and slide it to the left on the input slider.  This will reduce the amount of input the microphone will relay so it will focus less on the background noises such as the echo and try to only send what you are saying through.

Additional Help

If the echoing problem continues throughout this process it may be a more serious issue with the computer, speakers, or microphone.  You should try to talk to a professional so that you can get the best help possible.  The easiest, fastest way to get in contact with reliable local IT service businesses is to use TalkLocal. Just put in your problem and availability and let them do all the work.  Within minutes you will be connected to a professional who will be able to help you out.

Have you just bought a new wireless router? Use these tips for an easy Belkin wireless router setup using the Belkin start-up disk.

 1)     Plug the network cable into the Ethernet port of the router and into the data port of the modem.

2)     Place the security card on the bottom of the router.

3)     Plug the router into an outlet. A blinking blue light will appear on the top of the router. Once the light stops flashing, you may continue.

4)     Insert Belkin’s startup disk into your computer and follow the instructions.

If you do not have the Belkin installation disk, follow these steps:

1)     Make sure you have an Ethernet connection.

2)     You will be prompted for a password. New routers do not have passwords by default, so click “Submit.” If there was a password already in place, then you will need to reset the Belkin router.

3)     On the left side of the page, click on “Connection Type.”

1. Cable Broadband users (Comcast, Cox Cable, Charter Cable, Time Warner, Road Runner): Dynamic > Next > leave “Host Name” blank > Next > Change WAN MAC Address > Clone > Apply Changes.
2. DSL Connection (AT&T, Bell-south, AOL, Verizon Direct): click on PPPoE > Next > enter username and password given by the internet service provider > save > Home
3. Static Connection (Qwest.net, Sky-way, Star-band, DIRECTV): click on “Static” > Next > enter the IP Address, Sub-net Mask, and ISP Gateway Address > Apply changes > enter the Primary DNS and Secondary DNS information > Apply Changes

Additional Help

If you need further assistance, contact TalkLocal to help connect you with the best local professional suited to your needs. Learn more about TalkLocal today!

Have you lost years’ worth of important data after a system restore on your Windows computer brought it back to the state it was in when you first bought it? First of all, in the future remember to always back up all of your data, especially before doing a system restore. However, if you haven’t backed up your data, this article will help you to recover data after a system restore.

Things You Can Try to Recover Your Data

The first thing to try is click Start and in the Search box do a search for windows.old. If you find a folder called windows.old (it should be in the C drive), then breathe a sigh of relief, all of your data from before your system restore should be in this folder.

If you don’t have the windows.old folder, all hope is not lost. You may still be able to recover some of your data, but you have to stop using your computer (turn it off): every time you do something you are overwriting any data that might still be left over from before your system restore.

Another option for recovering the data is to purchase a data recovery program. If possible, use another computer to search for and research programs, so you do not overwrite data on the computer on which you are trying to recover data. Once you have decided on a program you can download it on that computer.

Additional Help

Another option is to hire a computer professional in your area to recover your data for you. You can use TalkLocal and receive a call within minutes from someone in your area who knows how to recover data after a system restore and is available whenever you want them.