Consumed Consumer . org

In response to numerous requests, we are publishing a no non-sense guide to backing up your encrypted or unencrypted DVD with the use of high-quality, ad/spyware-free gratis programs on Windows XP (it might work on Vista as well).

I have recently unearthed a computer I haven't touched in a while and together with it the problems that frustrated me initially. Not only that the problems did not go away, but now the computer seems to suffer abandonment issues. This is a multiboot machine and it seems that the CD-ROM / DVD burner is identified by all OSs but it is unusable in only one of them. I'm showing you how to fix this problem.

A question that keeps popping up all over forums is how to convert various proprietary ISO formats into something useful and useable. We shall answer.

We recently needed an older computer and discovered we had forgotten a login password. Our development server for designing and testing a website will most likely reside on an older laptop running in dual boot with Windows XP SP 3 and Backtrack Linux 5.

Finding myself stuck with some outdated Linux distributions on an older Toshiba tablet hybrid (without DVD or CD-ROM drive), I decided to upgrade it to a more modern and useful distribution.

Now that the latest LTS is out, I thought the time is ripe to upgrade.

Now that we recovered passwords and we're in, it's time to do a little clean up of this older Win XP / BT5r1 box.

The much anticipated show (re)starts today. Prepare to be once again mesmerized, as the show moves chronologically from JFK’s election and Marilyn's death to the era of those big shocks to the system.

Today only, Steam is running a promotion of Battlefield 2 – The Complete Collection at half-price. I’ve decided to complement it with my own giveaway of 3 free such Steam licenses.

Continuing my SSD saga with windows installation. For what is worth, I have original Windows licenses with COA for all the new computers and laptops I purchased plus I even purchased and additional Windows license from DigitalRiver, as a student, for about $39. Unfortunately, that license was supposed to be for Windows Professional, as I ordered and was instead for Windows Home, which although at the same price point, lacked important functionality. I tried to contact the reseller to get the problem rectified but that was not possible (no response). Needless to say, I’m not as happy as one could be.

Have you noticed your Internet connection getting sluggish even while your Speed-tests show no slowdown? Are your VoIP conversations breaking up and becoming unintelligible especially when torrent downloading? If your answer is yes, you might benefit from the following tips.

Not long ago I dropped my old trusty tablet hybrid on the floor and the monitor went blank. I had to quickly purchase a new laptop, which itself was fixed only days ago. I will discuss here how I got a new one and what others can do when their laptop is almost dead to retrieve their data.